Tadahiko Mizuno, et al. : Plasma Electrolysis

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**Tadahiko MIZUNO**

**Plasma Electrolysis**

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***Japanese Journal of Applied Physics***   
**Vol. 44, No. 1A, 2005, pp. 396-401**   
[**http://jjap.ipap.jp/link?JJAP/44/396/**](http://jjap.ipap.jp/link?JJAP/44/396/)

**Hydrogen Evolution by Plasma Electrolysis
in Aqueous Solution**

**Tadahiko Mizuno\*, Tadashi Akimoto,
Kazuhisa Azumi (1), Tadayoshi Ohmori (2), Yoshiaki Aoki
(3) and Akito Takahashi (4)**

( Division of Quantum Energy Engineering, Graduate School of
Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku,
Sapporo 060-8628, Japan )   
**\*E-mail address: mizuno@qe.eng.hokudai.ac.jp**   
1. Division of Molecular Science, Graduate School of
Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku,
Sapporo 060-8628, Japan   
2. Catalysis Research Center, Hokkaido University, Kita 11 Nishi
10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060, Japan   
3. Center for Advanced Research of Energy Technology of Hokkaido
University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan   
4. Department of Nuclear Engineering, Graduate School of
Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka
565-0871, Japan

**Abstract:**  Hydrogen has recently attracted
attention as a possible solution to environmental and energy
problems. If hydrogen should be considered an energy storage
medium rather than a natural resource. However, free hydrogen
does not exist on earth. Many techniques for obtaining hydrogen
have been proposed. It can be reformulated from conventional
hydrocarbon fuels, or obtained directly from water by
electrolysis or high-temperature pyrolysis with a heat source
such as a nuclear reactor. However, the efficiencies of these
methods are low. The direct heating of water to sufficiently
high temperatures for sustaining pyrolysis is very difficult.
Pyrolysis occurs when the temperature exceeds 4000 degC. Thus
plasma electrolysis may be a better alternative, it is not only
easier to achieve than direct heating, but also appears to
produce more hydrogen than ordinary electrolysis, as predicted
by Faraday's laws, which is indirect evidence that it produces
very high temperatures. We also observed large amounts of free
oxygen generated at the cathode, which is further evidence of
direct decomposition, rather than electrolytic decomposition. To
achieve the continuous generation of hydrogen with efficiencies
exceeding Faraday efficiency, it is necessary to control the
surface conditions of the electrode, plasma electrolysis
temperature, current density and input voltage. The minimum
input voltage required induce the plasma state depends on the
density and temperature of the solution, it was estimated as 120
V in this study. The lowest electrolyte temperature at which
plasma forms is ?75 degC. We have observed as much as 80 times more
hydrogen generated by plasma electrolysis than by conventional
electrolysis at 300 V.

**References:**

1. T. Mizuno, T. Ohmori, T. Akimoto and A. Takahashi: Jpn. J.
Appl. Phys. 39 (2000) 6055[IPAP].   
2. T. Mizuno, T. Akimoto and T. Ohmori: Proc. 4th Meeting Jpn.
CF Res. Soc. Morioka, (2003) p. 27.   
3. S. Ohwaku and K. Kuroyanagi: Jpn. J. Met. Soc. 20 (1955) 63.
  
4. S. K. Sengupta and O. P. Singh: J. Electroanal. Chem. 301
(1991) 189.   
5. S. K. Sengupta and O. P. Singh and A. K. Srivastava: J.
Electrochem. Soc. 145 (1998) 2209.   
6. G. Oesterheld and E. Brunner: Z. Electrochemie 22 (1916) 38.
  
7. K. Arndt and H. Probst: Z. Electrochemie Angewandte Physik.
Chemie 13/14 (1923) 323.   
8. E. Manthey and W. Conzelmann: Z. Electrochemie 32 (1926) 330.
  
9. H. v. Wartenberg and G. Wehner: Z. Electrochemie 41 (1935)
448.   
10. T. Cserfalvi and P. Mezei: Presenius J. Analy. Chem. 355
(1996) 813.   
11. S. K. Sengupta and O. P. Singh: J. Electroanal. Chem. 369
(1994) 113.   
12. A. Hickling and M. D. Ingram: Trans. Faraday Soc. 60 (1964)
783.   
13. A. Hickling: Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry No. 6, eds.
J. O'M. Bockris and B. E. Conway (Plenum Press, New York, 1971)
p. 329.   
14. E. M. Drobyshevskii, B. G. Zhukov, B. I. Reznikov and S. I.
Rozov: Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys. 2 (1977) 148.

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***Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.:* Vol. 39 (2000): 6055-6061**   
**Part 1, No. 10, 15 October 2000**   
[**http://jjap.ipap.jp/link?JJAP/39/6055/**](http://jjap.ipap.jp/link?JJAP/39/6055/)

**Production of Heat during Plasma
Electrolysis in Liquid**

**Tadahiko Mizuno, Tadayoshi Ohmori (1),
Tadashi Akimoto and Akito Takahashi (2)**

( Division of Quantum Energy Engineering, Research Group of
Nuclear System Engineering, Laboratory of Nuclear Material
System, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University,
Kita 13 nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan )

1 Catalysis Research Center, Section of Interfacial Energy
Conversion, Hokkaido University, Kita 11 nishi10, Kita-ku,
Sapporo 060, Japan   
2 Department of Nuclear Engineering, Graduate School of
Engineering, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka
565-0871, Japan

**Abstract:**  Plasma was formed on the surface of an
electrode in a liquid solution when metal cathodes underwent
high-voltage electrolysis. A real-time heat calibration system
was designed for detecting the amount of heat generated during
plasma electrolysis. The measured heat exceeded the input power
substantially, and in some cases 200% of the input power. The
heat generation process depended on the conditions for
electrolysis. There was no excess heat at the beginning of
plasma electrolysis. However, after plasma electrolysis for a
long time, a large amount of heat was generated. The
reproducibility would be 100% if all factors such as
temperature, voltage and duration were optimized. Based on the
heat and the products, we hypothesize that some unique reaction
occurs on the cathode surface. This reaction may not occur at
energy levels available during electrochemical electrolysis.

**References:**

1. M. Fleischmann and S. Pons: J. Electroanal. Chem. 261 (1989)
301.   
2. A. D. Ninno, A. Frattolillo, G. Lollobattista, L. Martinis,
M. Martone, L. Mori, S. Podda and F. Scaramuzzi: Europhys. Lett.
9 (1989) 221.   
3. R. T. Bush and R. D. Eagleton: Frontiers of Cold Fusion
(Universal Academy Press, Tokyo, 1993) p. 405.   
4. T. Mizuno, T. Ohmori and M. Enyo: Electrochemistry 64 (1996)
1160.   
5. A. Hickling and M. D. Ingram: Trans. Faraday Soc. 60 (1964)
783.   
6. E. M. Drobyshevskii, Y. A. Dunaev and S. I. Rozov: Sov. Phys.
Tech. Phys. 18 (1973) 772.   
7. V. M. Sokolov: Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys. 29 (1984) 1112.   
8. E. P. Koval'chuk, O. M. Yanchuk and O. V. Reshetnyak: Phys.
Lett. A 189 (1994) 15[Elsevier].   
9. E. M. Drobyshevskii, B. G. Zhukov, B. I. Reznikov and S. I.
Rozov: Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys. 22 (1977) 148.   
10. A. Hickling: Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry eds. J. O'M
Bockris and B. E. Conway (Plenum Press, New York, 1971) No. 6,
p. 329.   
11. S. K. Sengupta and O. P. Singh: J. Electroanal. Chem. 301
(1991) 189.   
12. S. K. Sengupta, O. P. Singh and A. K. Srivastava: J.
Electrochem. Soc. 145 (1998) 2209.   
13. H. H. Kellogg: J. Electrochem. Soc. 97 (1950) 133.   
14. N. H. Polakowski: Met. Plogr. 67 (1955) 98.   
15. S. Ohwaku and K. Kuroyanagi: J. Jpn. Met. Soc. 20 (1956) 63.

Citing Article(s) :

1. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 40 (2001) L989-L991 : Neutron
Evolution from a Palladium Electrode by Alternate Absorption
Treatment of Deuterium and Hydrogen;  Tadahiko Mizuno,
Tadashi Akimoto, Tadayoshi Ohmori, Akito Takahashi, Hiroshi
Yamada and Hiroo Numata

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**METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
HYDROGEN GAS**

**JP2004059977**

**[ [PDF](JP200405997.pdf) ]**

**( 2004-02-26 )**

**MIZUNO, Tadahiko**

Applicant: MIZUNO TADAHIKO; ARAKI MASAO

Classification:  - international: C01B3/04; C25B1/04;
C25B11/02; C25B15/02; C01B3/00; C25B1/00; C25B11/00; C25B15/00;
(IPC1-7): C25B1/04; C01B3/04; C25B11/02; C25B15/02

**Abstract ---** PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method
for generating a hydrogen gas with a high efficiency by
continuously and directly pyrolyzing water with a satisfactory
controllability. SOLUTION: This gas-generating method comprises
a step of accommodating an aqueous solution of an acid, an
alkali or a metal salt in a reaction vessel, and heating it to
70[deg.]C or higher but less than 100[deg.]C, a step of applying
a voltage of 100-2,000 V to the above heated solution with pulse
widths of 0.1-10 s and pulse intervals of 0.01-5 s to generate
plasma, and a step of electrolyzing the above aqueous solution
with the above plasma.

![](mizuno1.jpg)![](mizuno2.jpg)

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