Electrochemical Cold Fusion

In March 1989, Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons reported their discovery of cold nuclear fusion. They announced that during electrolysis of a solution of hthium hydroxide in heavy water (DjO) with a cathode made of massive palladium, nuclear transformations of deuterium at room temperature can be recorded. This announcement, which promised humankind a new and readily available energy source, was seized upon immediately by the mass media in many countries. Over the following years, research was undertaken worldwide on an unprecedented scale in an effort to verify this finding. 

Initially, cold fusion was investigated exclusively with just the aim of verifying the very possibility that such an unusual process could occur. Two fusion reactions of deuterium nuclei were regarded as being most likely  

Reaction (33.4.1) yields the helium isotope He and a neutron n reaction (33.4.2) yields tritium T and fight hydrogen (a proton) P, in both cases with the liberation of a huge amount of energy. 

In the experimental verification, therefore, it was attempted to find the following phenomena  

The formation of the isotope He, which would be revealed by a departure from the natural ratio of isotopes He and He 

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Ultrasound influences multiphase systems such as the production of microemulsions. It is useful in electrosynthesis involving immiscible materials—this effect has been particularly exploited for several applications in environmental science. Ultrasound can also enhance electrochemiluminescence systems, and has been applied to many other aspects of electrochemistry, including the as yet unexplained benefits of pre-treating electrolyte solutions. It has even been proposed to enhance electrochemical cold-fusion . 

Another result of the cold-fusion epopee that was positive for electrochemistry are the advances in the experimental investigation and interpretation of isotope effects in electrochemical kinetics. Additional smdies of isotope effects were conducted in the protium-deuterium-tritium system, which had received a great deal of attention previously now these effects have become an even more powerful tool for work directed at determining the mechanisms of electrode reactions, including work at the molecular level. Strong procedural advances have been possible not only in electrochemistry but also in the other areas. 

In parallel with the detailed checking of evidence for cold fusion, the range of hypotheses as to the nature of the phenomenon was at first extended very strongly at different levels. It must be pointed out at once that most of these hypotheses did not contain any specifically electrochemical element, except that from the very... 

Electrochemistry was at the sonrce of the cold-fusion boom, bnt then at hrst sight seemed to stand aside. However, as a matter of fact, the central point in the experiments concerning electrolysis at palladium has been a phenomenon which now is investigated more vigoronsly and persistently electrochemical intercalation. 

Palladium hydride is a unique model system for fundamental studies of electrochemical intercalation. It is precisely in work on cold fusion that a balanced materials science approach based on the concepts of crystal chemistry, crystallography, and solid-state chemistry was developed in order to characterize the intercalation products. Very striking examples were obtained in attempts to understand the nature of the sporadic manifestations of nuclear reactions, true or imaginary. In the case of palladium, the elfects of intercalation on the state of grain boundaries, the orientation of the crystals, reversible and irreversible deformations of the lattice, and the like have been demonstrated. 

Obviously, if one knows how to make HDCC directly, it is of little value to go through the electrochemical process to produce charge clusters at random times and random places. In the judgement of this author, this cold-fusion type... 

These workers observed the generation of neutrons and tritium from electrochemically compressed D+ in a Pd cathode. Their study has stimulated a variety of calorimetric and nuclear measurements. However, the occurrence of the phenomena is sporadic and appears unreproducible on a consistent basis. Therefore a pessimistic view of cold fusion must be taken with respect to the possibility of future energy production. 

Fleischmann had great skills in mathematics and the modeling of systems used throughout his research programs. This was also trae in cold fusion, but unfortunately most scientists could not, or did not, follow his footsteps into the mathematical forest that led to a new and accurate calorimetric system for the study of electrochemical reactions. Even today, only... 

Gerhard Kreysa was bom in 1945 in Dresden. He studied chemistry at the University of Dresden and received his Ph.D. in 1970. In 1973, he joined the Karl Winnacker Institute of DECHEMA in Frankfurt am Main. He developed new concepts for the utilization of three-dimensional electrodes, which became prominent for electrochemical waste water treatment in the process industry. He also played a leading role in the clarification of the "cold fusion" affaire in 1989. In 1985, he was appointed as professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Dortmund. In 1993, he was appointed as honorary professor at the University of Regensburg. From 1985 to 1995, he served as executive editorial board member of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry. He was a recipient of the Chemviron Award in 1980, the Max-Buchner-Research-Award of DECHEMA and the Castner Medal of the Society of Chemical Industry in 1994, and the Wilhelm Ostwald Medal of the Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig in 2006. 

Grayish metal possesses a greenish-blue reflection tin- or silver-like when molten has a crystalline orthorhombic texture. mp 29.78. bp approx 2400 Cochran, Foster, J. Electrochem. Soc. 109, 144 (1962). Shows a tendency to remain in supercooled state. Contracts on melting (solid) 5.9037 d - 0iq) 6.0947 Richards, Boyer, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 43, 274 (1921). Heat capacity 0.09 cal/g/ C (0-24. solid). Latent heat of fusion 19.16 cal/g. Stable in dry air tarnishes in moist air or oxygen. Reacts with alkalies with evolution of hydrogen attacked by cold coned hydrochloric acid rendered passive by hot nitric acid readi -ly attacked by halogens. 

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