In situ observation of deuteride formation inpalladium foil cathode by an X-ray diffraction method

Abstract

In situ X-ray diffraction observation of a palladium foil cathode (10 μm in thickness)was carried out during electrolysis of alkaline heavy water and light water with high overpotentials. The foil cathode served as a wall of an electrolytic cell. One of the purposes was to evaluate the deuterium concentration in the palladium cathode used by Taniguchi et al. who claimed the possible occurrence of electrochemically induced “cold fusion” in a similar cell. No literature data were found by which we could evaluate the high chemical potential of deuterium in a palladium cathode during the electrolysis of alkaline heavy water with such high overpotentials. The lattice constants of the deuteride and hydride phases ( β-PdD x and β-PdH x ) were investigated as a function of applied potential by iterative in situ X-ray diffraction measurement during the electrolysis. The highest lattice constants observed were 4.07for both deuteride and hydride.