Absorption/desorption of deuterium at Pd95% - Rh5% alloy: peculiarities of electrochemical desorption process

The anodic desorption of deuterium from deuterides of varying D/Me (deuterium-to-metal) ratio prepared by electrolysis of D2O at Pd 95%-Rh 5% alloy electrodes was investigated. It was found that the deuterium "extraction" current depends both on electrolytic environment and extraction potential, thus indicating that for some time the process is controlled by a kinetic step at the boundary more than by deuterium diffusion within the metal. Kinetic and diffusivie parameters were determined separately from quantitative anlaysis of extraction current transients.