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Steady-state nonequilibrium temperature gradients in hydrogen gas–metal systems: challenging the second law of thermodynamics

Differences in gas reaction rates between disparate surfaces have been proposed as a means to achieve steady-state pressure and temperature gradients within a single blackbody cavity, thereby challenging the second law of thermodynamics (Sheehan 1998 Phys. Rev. E 57 6660; Sheehan 2001 Phys. Lett. A 280 185; Capek and Sheehan 2005 Challenges to the Second Law of Thermodynamics (Theory and Experiment) (Fundamental Theories of Physics Series vol 146) (Dordrecht: Springer)). This paper reports on laboratory tests of this hypothesis; specifically, molecular hydrogen is found to dissociate preferentially on rhenium surfaces versus tungsten at identical elevated temperatures and reduced pressures (T ⩽ 2100 K; ). Steady-state nonequilibrium H/H2 ratios over the surfaces suggest that temperature gradients could be maintained under blackbody cavity conditions. Preliminary results from bimetallic blackbody cavity experiments are discussed.