THE ABSORPTION OF HYDROGEN AND DEUTERIUM IN THIN PALLADIUM ELECTRODES .1. ACIDIC SOLUTIONS

A comparative study of hydrogen and deuterium sorption in acidic solutions (0.5 M H2SO4 and D2SO4), using electrodes obtained by electrochemical deposition of a thin layer of palladium on gold, has been performed. Additional results have been obtained with electrodes in which the thin palladium film was deposited on an inert substrate of RVC (Reticulated Vitreous Carbon). The amount of absorbed hydrogen or deuterium has been found to depend on the electrode potential. The maximum H(D)/Pd ratios, at potentials slightly positive of the gas evolution, were 0.73 for hydrogen and 0.70 for deuterium, respectively. The isotopic effect for alpha-phase formation appears to be greater than that for the alpha --> beta transition.