Changes in the Radioactivity, Topography, and Surface Composition of Uranium After Hydrogen Loading by Aqueous Electrolysis

Abstract

Hydrogen loading of 99.98% pure natural uranium foils (0.18 mm thick) was performed by aqueous electrolysis in order to compare with glow discharge results. Alpha, beta, and gamma specific radioactivity were measured after hydrogen loading and compared with the control. Some of the samples revealed an increase of the specific radioactivity of up to 20%. Gamma ray spectroscopy was also performed on the samples. Results reveal an increase of the specific counts for the peaks of Th234 and U235 and a decrease in the U Kα1 characteristic x-ray peak. The surface topography changed from granular before electrolysis to pitted afterward. The thorium concentration increased slightly after electrolysis compared with the original material. In summary, this work in progress reveals that loading hydrogen into uranium increases the uranium decay rate, in agreement with the glow discharge results.

The Cold Fusion Phenomenon – Nuclear Reactions in the CF Materials at Around Room Temperature

“…Experimental data sets on actinoid hydrides and deuterides prepared by electrolysis and glow discharge [26,27,28] have been analyzed and explained using the TNCF model [29]. The experimental data have shown that these hydrides and deuterides are classified as the CF materials where occurs the cold fusion phenomenon (CFP) and the observed events are understood by nuclear reactions common to other reactions observed in CF materials, mainly transition-metal hydrides and deuterides.…”

“…The changes of radiation properties of actinoids occluding hydrogen isotopes are explained by formation of the cf-matter similar to the free neutron sea in neutron star matter [30] and then by the interaction of actinoid nucleus and the cf-matter. We have explained the experimental results [26,27,28] on the acceleration of the alpha decay of 238 92 U into 234 90 Th, the so-called the decay-time shortening, by the change of the boundary layer between the nucleus 238 92 U and the cf-matter. The change of the boundary layer is induced by the increase of the density ratio n o /n i of neutrons (n i and n o are neutron densities inside and outside the nucleus, respectively) due to the formation of the cf-matter (Sec.…”

Overview of Light Water/Hydrogen-Based Low Energy Nuclear Reactions

“…While there is evidence for energetic charged particles and soft x-ray emission in these studies, it remains to be determined if the mechanism for this emission is directly related to the transmutation/heat effect or is associated with auxillary EM effects. In a unique experiment to explore possible radioactive waste disposal applications, Dash and Chicea reported that in light water experiment using U electrodes the intensity of the alpha, beta, gamma radioactivity of the electrodes increased after loading hydrogen [11]. The 235 U and 234 Th isotopic concentrations were also reported to have increased.…”