Cold nuclear fusion explained by hydrogen embrittlement and piezonuclear fissions in metallic electrodes: Part II: Pd and Ni electrodes

Recent experiments provided evidence of piezonuclear reactions occurring in condensed matter during electrolysis. These experiments were characterized by significant neutron and alpha particle emissions, together with appreciable variations in the chemical composition at the electrode surfaces. A mechanical reason for the so-called Cold Nuclear Fusion was recently proposed by the authors. The hydrogen embrittlement due to H atoms produced by the electrolysis plays an essential role for the observed micro-cracking in the electrode host metals (Pd and Ni). Consequently, our hypothesis is that piezonuclear fission reactions may occur in correspondence to the micro-crack formation or propagation. In order to confirm the early results obtained by the Ni-Fe and Co-Cr electrodes and presented in the companion paper (Part I), electrolytic tests have been conducted using 100 % Pd at the cathode and 90 % Ni at the anode. As a result, relevant compositional changes and the appearance of elements previously absent have been observed on the Pd and Ni electrodes after the experiments, as well as significant neutron emissions. The most relevant process emerging from the experiment is the primary fission of palladium into iron and calcium. Then, secondary fissions of both the products as well as of nickel in the other electrode appear in turn producing oxygen atoms, alpha particles, and neutrons.