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Discussed in this paper is the evolution of work that started, since March 1989, by using the M. Fleischmann and S. Pons method and ended by using thin palladium wires electrolyzed in an electrolyte consisting of slightly acidic heavy alcohol-water solution containing thorium (Th) and mercury (Hg) salts at micromolar concentrations. The resulting large and dynamic loading of the Pd wires was studied. The recent use of thorium instead of strontium resulted in thermal anomalies and detection of new elements in larger amounts. The results with Sr are qualitatively in agreement with what was found by Y. Iwamura (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama-Japan) using multilayers of Pd-CaO-Pd-Sr in flowing deuterium gas. Most results seem to be in agreement with a “multi-body resonance fusion of deuterons” model recently developed by A.Takahashi (Osaka University-Japan).

They were continued, at National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Frascati National Laboratories-Italy, the systematic studies about detection of new elements, some even with isotopic composition different from natural one, after prolonged electrolysis of Pd wires. The electrolytic solution adopted is the, unusual, used from our experimental group since 1999. In short, it was a mixture of both heavy ethyl alcohol (C2H5OD at 90-95%) and water (D2O, at 10-5%), with Th salts at micromolar concentration and Hg at even lower concentration (both of spectroscopic purity). The liquid solutions, before use, were carefully vacuum distilled (and on line 100nm filtered) at low temperatures (30-40°C) and analysed by ICP-MS. The pH was kept quite mild (acidic at about 3-4). The cathode is Pd (99.9% purity) in the shape of long (60cm) and thin wires (diameter only 0.05mm). Before use, it is carefully cleaned and oxidised by Joule heating in air following a (complex) procedure from us continuously improved (since 1995). Before and after use, some pieces of it, about 50% of total length, are ICP-MS analysed. The anode is a Pt wire (purity>99.99%), 0.250mm diameter. The cell adopted is usually a borosilicate chemical glass (like SCHOTT-DURAN, Germany), filling volume about 750cc. Recently (since July 2004) an ultra-pure quartz cylinder (volume about 1050cc) was adopted in order to rule out possibilities of corrosion effects from the cell. The sample older and details of cell are made only of PTFE, as detailed at ICCF10 and ICCF11.

Discussed in this paper is the evolution of work that started, since March 1989, by using the M. Fleischmann and S. Pons method and ended by using thin palladium wires electrolyzed in an electrolyte consisting of slightly acidic heavy alcohol-water solution containing thorium (Th) and mercury (Hg) salts at micromolar concentrations. The resulting large and dynamic loading of the Pd wires was studied. The recent use of thorium instead of strontium resulted in thermal anomalies and detection of new elements in larger amounts. The results with Sr are qualitatively in agreement with what was found by Y. Iwamura (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama-Japan) using multilayers of Pd-CaO-Pd-Sr in flowing deuterium gas. Most results seem to be in agreement with a "multi-body resonance fusion of deuterons" model recently developed by A.Takahashi (Osaka University-Japan).

The insoluble powder recovered at the bottom of our electrolytic cell, after several electrolytic deuterium loading/deloading cycles, was analysed by an ICP-MS analyser. The electrolyte was constituted of a deuterated hydro-alcoholic solution; Sr and Hg salts were added to such a solution at micromolar concentration; the cathode was a long and thin Pd wire. The ICP-MS analyses of the insoluble powder were motivated from the recent results of Y. Iwamura and collaborators at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-Researh Center (Yokohama, Japan) showing reproducible "transmutation" of Sr into Mo (isotopic composition different from natural one) and Cs into Pr, when a special multilayer Pd sheet was subjected to a prolonged Deuterium gas flowing. Some of our results look partially in agreement with Y. Iwamura report. Other unexpected elements were also detected with an isotopic distribution close to the natural one. The production of stable isotopes by Selective Channel Photofission, according to the model of A.Takahashi (Osaka University, Japan), can help for understanding. Further works, hopefully also from other Laboratories, are needed to clarify this kind of results.