Cold nuclear fusion explained by hydrogen embrittlement and piezonuclear fissions in metallic electrodes: Part I: Ni-Fe and Co-Cr electrodes

Several evidences of anomalous nuclear reactions occurring in condensed matter have been observed in the phenomenon of electrolysis. Despite the great amount of experimental results coming from the so-called Cold Nuclear Fusion research activities, the comprehension of these phenomena still remains unsatisfactory. On the other hand, as reported by most of the articles devoted to Cold Nuclear Fusion, one of the principal features is the appearance of microcracks on the electrode surfaces after the experiments. In the present paper, a mechanical explanation is proposed considering a new kind of nuclear reactions, the piezonuclear fissions, which are a consequence of hydrogen embrittlement of the electrodes during electrolysis. The experimental activity was conducted using a Ni-Fe anode and a Co-Cr cathode immersed in a potassium carbonate solution. Emissions of neutrons and alpha particles were measured during the experiments and the electrode compositions were analyzed both before and after the electrolysis, revealing the effects of piezonuclear fissions occurring in the host lattices. The symmetrical fission of Ni appears to be the most evident observation. Such reaction would produce two Si atoms or two Mg atoms with alpha particles and neutrons as additional fragments.