Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Physics
First Advisor
John Dash
Term of Graduation
Summer 1995
Date of Publication
6-29-1995
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics
Department
Physics
Language
English
Subjects
Electrolysis, Titanium, Deuterium oxide
DOI
10.15760/etd.6899
Physical Description
1 online resource (2, vii, 105 pages)
Abstract
The purpose of these studies was to determine if results similar to those of Fleischmann and Pons could be obtained using a titanium cathode instead of palladium in an electrolysis in a heavy water cell. The electrolyte consists of D2O and H2SO4. Two experiments have been performed to examine the features of this electrolysis. As titanium shows the same properties to attract hydrogen, it seemed possible that excess heat could be produced. Radiation was monitored, and the surface of the titanium cathode was examined before and after electrolysis for any changes in the morphology and composition, hoping to discover new elements that can be created only by fusion reactions in the cell, i.e. by transmutation. The heat and radiation effects have been evaluated in comparison to a control cell, using the same electrolyte and current. The only difference was the cathode, which was of platinum. It appears that excess heat is produced during electrolyses of heavy water with a titanium cathode. The amount of this excess heat was 750 cal in a one hour period, an energy gain of 44%. No significant emission of any of the products associated with a "classical" deuterium-deuterium fusion was observed during either experiment, i.e. heat but no radiation. Unexpected elements were found in both experiments, i.e. K. Cr, Fe, Ni and Zn. Remarkable is the fact that the new elements always occur very close in the periodic table to an impurity element, i.e. Cu and Zn.
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/29070
Recommended Citation
Kopecek, Radovan, "Electrolysis of Titanium in Heavy Water" (1995). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 5023.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.6899
Comments
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