The Pons-Fleischmann experiment consisted of passing an electric current between two electrodes (made of palladium and platinum) suspended in a solution of heavy water and lithium. Palladium is capable of absorbing hydrogen, and it was thought that enough deuterium (heavy hydrogen) would collect inside the electrode and be forced close enough together to undergo spontaneous fusion. Pons' original claim was that after a night with the current on, the palladium electrode had melted through the beaker, the table it was sitting on, and the ground beneath the table. The heat required to melt the electrode (palladium melts at about 1550 degrees C or 2825 F) supposed came from deuterium fusion.

However, no subsequent experiment has been able to reproduce these results. No excess heat has been produced, and none of the expected fusion products have been found. Furthermore, if the amount of heat reported by Pons had been the result of nuclear fusion, there would have been enough neutrons released to give the experimenters a lethal dose of radiation.

At this point, the Pons-Fleischmann apparatus has been scientifically discredited. Although some research continues, a plausible mechanism for cold-fusion-in-a-cup has yet to be suggested.
Source(s):
http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/courses/classes/NE-24%20Olander/cold_fusion.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_fusion
http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/pd.html

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