ANALYSIS OF DEFORMED PALLADIUM CATHODES RESULTING FROM HEAVY-WATER ELECTROLYSIS

Earlier experiments suggested that large differences in heat release b etween the two sides of a palladium electrode coated with gold on one side and manganese oxide on the other cause observed electrode deforma tion with high-pressure D-2 gas loading in an electrolysis-like cell. Similar experiments were repeated using heavy wafer electrolysis Palla dium/titanium coatings on one side and gold coating on the other were made for the preparation of the palladium electrodes. Biaxial bending, partial discoloration, and microcracks of palladium electrodes were o bserved after 18 days of electrolysis. Analysis of the deformed pallad ium cathodes was performed. If was discovered that to convert this con figuration to a practical energy-producing cell, a coating technique m ust be found to reduce outward diffusion of deuterium, i.e., to mainta in a high D/Pd ratio over longer periods of time.