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Metallurgical characterization of Pd electrodes employed in calorimetric experiments under electrochemical deuterium loading
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A systematic approach has been followed in the production and characterization of Pd foils to be used in excess heat production experiments (1)( 2) (3). Starting with a metal foil as supplied, palladium samples have been fabricated and characterized in a step by step process, and then subjected to electrolysis deuterium loading. The characterized metallurgical properties include the main grain size, the grain boundary, the material Vickers hardness, and the crystal grain orientation. Electrochemical properties that are recorded include the D/Pd loading ratio and the D/Pd low current loading ratio. A suitable correlation parameter has been defined and correlations have been found between excess heat production and individual properties; i.e. the mean grain size, grain boundary, material hardness, crystal grain orientation, deuterium loading and low-current deuterium loading level.
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... In this paper, we concentrate on the study of the surface morphology of the Pd electrodes, leaving the other aspects of material science to other papers [3], [4]. In particular, we limit our analysis to the length scale of a few micrometers, which characterizes the surface morphology "inside" each crystal grain. ...
... In particular, we limit our analysis to the length scale of a few micrometers, which characterizes the surface morphology "inside" each crystal grain. Grain boundary features fall outside this range, and they have been considered elsewhere [3], [4]. ...
The introduction of hydrogen into a metal during electrolysis of water involves primarily the metallic surface. The effect of surface morphology on electrochemical reaction kinetics is well described in the literature 1 therefore it seems to be reasonable to assume that the surface morphology of the cathodes could play a role in the electrochemical metal-hydride formation. Actually, a wide variety of surface features and profiles have been observed in the Pd cathodes typically employed in excess heat production experiments. These features are noted in both the as-prepared samples and the electrolyzed ones. In order to establish a correlation between the occurrence of a particular surface morphology and calorimetric results, it is necessary to identify a useful metric with which to describe and compare the different surface morphologies. In this work an approach based on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been investigated. The method is oriented toward the identification of parameters suitable for a pre- screening of the materials.
A plausible nuclear-active-environment in which Low-energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) occurs is identified by ruling out various possibilities and by identifying an environment that is common to all successful methods. When this environment is combined with a plausible mechanism, many testable predictions result. These insights and proposals are offered to help clarify understanding of LENR and to suggest future studies. The common environment in which LENR occurs is proposed to be cracks of a critical size, followed by a resonance process that dissipates energy by X-ray emission based on a laser-like process. The LENR behavior has the potential to test the Standard Model of nuclear interaction.
A recent joint work (1) identified the crucial role of material science in improving control of the Pd-D system to enhance the production of excess power during electrochemical loading of palladium foils with deuterium. Very high reproducibility, close to 100%, in loading Pd up to D/Pd ~1 (atomic fraction) was achieved. High loading about the threshold value of 0.9 is considered necessary to achieve the effect. This work demonstrated it is necessary but not sufficient. As a consequence, the focus of our research moved to the material properties of cathodes, especially surface characteristics, and an effort to correlate these properties with cathode performance during electrolysis. This paper describes the material properties examined that appear to produce excess heat.
A recent joint work (1) identified the crucial role of material science in improving control of the Pd-D system to enhance the production of excess power during electrochemical loading of palladium foils with deuterium. Very high reproducibility, close to 100%, in loading Pd up to D/Pd ~1 (atomic fraction) was achieved. High loading about the threshold value of 0.9 is considered necessary to achieve the effect. This work demonstrated it is necessary but not sufficient. As a consequence, the focus of our research moved to the material properties of cathodes, especially surface characteristics, and an effort to correlate these properties with cathode performance during electrolysis. This paper describes the material properties examined that appear to produce excess heat.
The introduction of hydrogen into a metal during electrolysis of water involves primarily the metallic surface. The effect of surface morphology on electrochemical reaction kinetics is well described in the literature 1 therefore it seems to be reasonable to assume that the surface morphology of the cathodes could play a role in the electrochemical metal-hydride formation. Actually, a wide variety of surface features and profiles have been observed in the Pd cathodes typically employed in excess heat production experiments. These features are noted in both the as-prepared samples and the electrolyzed ones. In order to establish a correlation between the occurrence of a particular surface morphology and calorimetric results, it is necessary to identify a useful metric with which to describe and compare the different surface morphologies. In this work an approach based on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been investigated. The method is oriented toward the identification of parameters suitable for a pre- screening of the materials.
There are more than 10 groups world wide that have reported the measurement of excess heat in 1/3 of their experiments in open and/or closed electrochemical cells with a Pd solid metal cathode and deuterium containing electrolyte, or D2 gas loading of Pd powders (see Table 1 of the main text). Most of these groups have occasionally experienced significant events lasting for time periods of hours to days with 50–200% excess heat measured as the ratio between electrical input energy and heat output energy. Moreover, these experimenters have improved their methods over time and it is to be noted that the reported excess heat effect has not diminished in frequency or magnitude. This paper cites selected data generated over the past 15 years to briefly summarize what has been reported about the production of excess heat in Pd cathodes charged with deuterium. A set of new materials experiments is suggested that, if performed, may help to reveal the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for the reported excess heat.
The main research work in ENEA (Italian Agency for Energy New Technologies and Environment) in the field of Condensed Matter Nuclear Science was oriented towards material science in order to increase both the magnitude and reproducibility of excess of power production. The work was performed within a cooperative framework involving University of Rome La Sapienza, SRI, Energetics and also NRL that has been established specifically for fundamental research in the field of material science. Such a research strategy was conceived to gain a significant control of the phenomenon in order to create appropriate conditions to operate diagnostics both for seeking nuclear products and related signals and to define the physics of the process. The excess of heat reproducibility increased up to more than 60% and the gain, in some occasions, was larger that 100%. Material processes developed at ENEA have been successfully used also in the other Institutions involved in the cooperation both in loading and in calorimetric experiments. The amplitude of the signals giving a very high signal/noise ratio, the gains in energy, the level of transferred reproducibility and their correlation with the status of the material, are well above noise and error bar criteria. Detailed experimental results will be reported.