This is one of many statements made by the reviewers that is incomplete and based on confusion. The fact is that when solid palladium is used as the cathode, time is required for it to acquire the required high D/Pd ratio and time is required for the active material to plate on the surface. If this active surface is plated before it is put in the calorimeter and Pt or another inert metal is used as the substrate, the required time is much shorter. Cathodes once activated continue to produce energy until the surface has been covered by material dissolved from the anode. An electrolytic system is dynamic and can not be expected to perform immediately and for a long time. The method used by Arata is much more stable and long-lived, as are the ion bombardment methods.
Ed Harry Veeder wrote: > One of the criticisms of the DOE panel was that the cells did > not provide continuous excess power over the entire time span > of an experiment. > > I think this is natural trait of CF systems, but it is not > without value as the DOE panel implies. > > If one can learn to predict when a cell will produce > bursts of power, the cell is potentially a useful source > of power. > > Harry Veeder