Beta 2 – Experiment 9 - Ni Control

 Cell:

• Cathode:  15 cm of exposed 0.4mm Ni wire wrapped around 1 cm x 2 cm Landauer CR-39 chip
• Anode:  Approximately 5 cm of 0.5 mm Pt wire with Pt screen spot welded on end  
• NO magnets

 Electrolyte:

• TGP Recipe: 27.5 gm D2O + 0.42 gm LiCl + 0.135 gm PdCl2

 Procedure:

• TGP current settings:
  • 0.1 mA for 24 hrs
  • 0.2 mA for 24 hrs
  • 0.5 mA until the solution is clear (generally 14 days or more)
  • 1 mA for 24 hrs
  • 5 mA for 24 hrs
  • 10 mA for 24 hrs
  • 25 mA for 7 days (waiting for black cloud to condense)
  • 50 mA for 24 hrs
  • 100 mA for 24 hrs

Etch:

• 6.5M NaOH at 68°C for 6 hours

Results:

• The solution is fading much faster than it usually does - it is now stratified with the dark part under the electrode (Day 4)

• Day 12, a black cloud has formed, similar to the NiSO4 and NiCl2 runs (persisted for 10 days)

• Day 22, black cloud finally gone...where did it go?!?!

• Tracks mostly at the edges where the cathode was in good contact with the CR-39

Day 4		Compare  Day 4