First Advisor

John Dash

Term of Graduation

Fall 2001

Date of Publication

2002

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Sciences and Resources: Physics

Department

Physics

Language

English

Subjects

Cold fusion, Deuterium oxide, Hydrogen, Titanium

Physical Description

1 online resource (xii, 247 pages)

Abstract

The purpose of these studies was to explore the Pons and Fleischmann effect using a titanium-deuterium electrolysis system. Three areas were being explored in these experiments: (1) possible production of excess heat, (2) an elemental change in the makeup of the cathode and (3) reproducibility.

Using two different calorimeter systems (8-Cell and Seebeck Envelope Calorimeter (SEC)), 64 electrolytic cells were run in 29 experiments. Of the 64 experimental cells, 38% showed evidence of excess heat generation overall. Excess heat was not claimed until the power output was at least 100 mW greater than power input which is 5 σ above the typical 8-Cell error level and 10 σ above the typical SEC error level.

Elemental changes were explored using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with an attached Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) with a Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS), a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and X-Ray Diffraction techniques (XRD). Of the 64 experimental cathodes, 38% were analyzed both before and after electrolysis using SEM and EDS techniques. The results of these analyses have shown that 50% of the excess heat producing cells displayed evidence for Cr and 36% of the non-excess heat producing cells exhibited evidence for Cr as well as other elements. Chromium was also found using NAA and FIB/SIMS techniques. FIB and SIMS analysis indicate that there is as much as 30% TiH at the surface of the cathode (Å) that decreases to 3% as the depth of the analysis increases (to 300 Å, for instance). This occurred in both pre and post experiment analysis. XRD analysis of post-electrolysis electrolyte sediment showed TiO2. TEM analysis suggested the presence of β-TiO2, Ti4O7 and other compounds.

Reproducibility was checked by varying the reduction of thickness of the cathode or other metallurgical conditions of the cathode, current density, perimeter to surface area ratio and by the introduction of neutrons into the cells. It turns out that a reduction in thickness of the cathode to 20% above that performed by the manufacturer yielded the best results. Heating the cathode in vacuum resulted in decreased excess thermal power production. Increased current density seems to increase the magnitude of the excess heat production and it appears there is an optimal range (0.3–0.6 mm−1 ) of perimeter to surface area ratios that gives the best reproducibility. The introduction of neutrons into the cell, referred to as neutron doping, showed inconclusive results.

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Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42956

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