Abstract: Materials, compounds, systems, and methods of dosing fluorescent lamps to reduce run-up time by improving mercury release rates. A pellet comprises a core and a coating on at least a portion of the surface of the core, the coating being formed from a powder of one or more intermetallic compounds comprising mercury. A method comprises providing a core and forming a coating on at least a portion of the surface of the core with a material comprising one or more intermetallic compounds comprising mercury and a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, tin, zinc, bismuth, gold, platinum, palladium, nickel, manganese, and titanium.