I have an idea for an experimental setup that will be safe, cheap and reproducible.
The test could be divided in two phases, and the first phase will be even cheaper.
It is based on the accumulator/battery cathode material LiNiO2 (There were exothermic reactions observed in such batteries that
have not been understood now, Coincidence? I do not want to speculate here, I leave this to you) http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2…7924/full/ncomms7924.html
LiNiO2 is non-flammable, non-explosive and non-toxic (It can support allergies, however, so put on gloves anyhow)
Phase 1:
One needs an ampule of a chemically inert material with high melting point. Tantulum compounds are available for this purpose.
First the ampule can be open.
At the opening one can place two high melting point wires made of nickel high temperature alloy to apply voltage.
Possibly one could also place the ampule in the center of a Helmholtz coil to apply magnetic fields.
The most expensive equipment will be the temperature measurement devices.
Phase 2:
One needs a closed container of high temperature Ta alloy It can be very small, just a few cm³ are enough. This will let the experiment stay safe.
First let the Oxygen be released from LiNiO2 at ~300 °C in the opened ampule.
Place the LiNi alloy inside the closed container and evacuate it.
Then one can build up a hydrogen, either 1H or 2H, atmosphere inside the container and
start to heat it.
Same procedure then as before.
We need reproducible experiments. No attempts to replicate the impossible.