Abstract: High surface area open microporous, partially crystalline, partially amorphous, solid ceramic materials containing silicon carbide with or without silica with or without carbon may be prepared by controlled pyrolysis of (RSiO.sub.1.5).sub.n gels in an inert atmosphere. The silica and carbon content, surface area, and pore size and distribution may be altered by optional subsequent processing steps to selectively remove carbon and/or silica.

Abstract: A method of electrodepositing a doped compound semiconductor film including tellurium and a metal selected from Group IIB of the Period Table of Elements by adding an effective concentration of dopant ions to the electrolyte bath. Cadmium telluride, mercury cadmium telluride and zinc cadmium telluride may be doped with copper, silver and gold. The conductivity type of the electrodeposited doped layers may be changed by a heat treatment. Thin film photovoltaic cells incorporating the doped layer to form a heterojunction with a semiconductor layer of the opposite conductivity type show substantial improvements in open circuit voltage, fill factor and efficiency over similar devices employing undoped electrodeposited layers.

Abstract: Disclosed is making a particular inorganic crystalline vanadium III oxidic compound from a pentavalent vanadium compound and at least one other or more metal cations, which process comprises (1) reducing a pentavalent vanadium oxidic compound to the V.sup.III state by heating at 100.degree. C. or less an aqueous medium slurry or solution of said pentavalent compound containing a reducing agent selected from hydrazine and hydrocarbylhydrazine, (2) providing in said aqueous medium, either before, during or after said reducing step, said other metal cation(s) in solution in the ratio called for by said particular crystalline compound, (3) removing the liquid aqueous medium, and (4) calcining the resulting dry solid at a temperature in the range from 400.degree. to 800.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere.Also disclosed is the vapor phase catalytic dehydrogenation of paraffins using certain spinels and perovskites as catalysts.

Abstract: Novel materials having the ability to reversibly store hydrogen are amorphous metal alloys of the formulaA.sub.a M.sub.b M'.sub.cwhereinA is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Hg, Pd and Pt;M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pb, Ru, Cu, Cr, Mo, Si, W, Ni, Al, Sn, Co, Fe, Zn, Cd, Ga and Mn; and M' is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, Ti, Y, Zr, Hf, Nb, V, Ta and the rare earths; andwhereina ranges from greater than zero to about 0.80;b ranges from zero to about 0.70; andc ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95;characterized in that (1) a substantial portion of A is disposed on the surface of said material and/or (2) that said material functions as an active surface layer for adsorbing/desorbing hydrogen in conjunction with a bulk storage material comprising a reversible hydrogen storage material.

Abstract: Disclosed is ammoxidation of C.sub.3 to C.sub.5 acyclic alkanes with NH.sub.3 and O.sub.2 using (1) a mole ratio of alkane:NH.sub.3 in the range from 2 to 16 and a mole ratio of alkane:O.sub.2 in the range 1 to 10 and (2) a mixture of particulate catalyst compositions, the first being especially effective to promote formation of an unsaturated nitrile and an olefin from the paraffin, and the second catalyst comosition being especially effective to promote the conversion of the olefin to the unsaturated nitrile. Catalyst compositions useful in the process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition is disclosed which comprises:(A) a compound represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrocarbyl groups of from about 2 to about 24 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 is a trivalent hydrocarbyl group of from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O or a mixture thereof; X is SO.sub.3.sup.-, SO.sub.4.sup.- or COO.sup.- ; and Y is an alkali metal or ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently hydrogen or methyl; and n is a number ranging from zero to about 15; and(B) a compound represented by the formula R.sup.9 -(R.sup.10).sub.m A.sup.-D.sup.+wherein: R.sup.9 is a hydrocarbyl group of from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms; R.sup.10 is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O or a mixture thereof; A is SO.sub.3.sup.-, SO.sub.4.sup.- or COO.sup.- ; D is an alkali metal or ##STR3## wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.12, R.sup.13 and R.sup.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of tetrahydrofuran comprises, in a single-stage process, catalytically hydrogenating the solution which results when at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride is dissolved in a monohydric aliphatic alcohol in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amorphous metal alloys of the formula:Cr.sub.a X.sub.b M.sub.cwhereinX is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ir, Rh and Ru;M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of P, B, N, C, As, Sb and S; and wherein a ranges from about 0.60 to abotu 0.96;b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.01;c ranges from about 0.04 to about 0.40; and with the provisor that a+b+c equals 1.00.

Abstract: A light pen for converting a conventional graphics plotter into a photoplotter includes a housing containing an electrically powered light source, a battery and a normally open switch. The housing has an aperture opposite the light source. The light pen replaces an ink pen in the plotter. When the light pen is urged against a photosensitive sheet in the plotter, the normally open switch is closed, the light pen is energized and the light pen is transmitted to the sheet to illuminate it. The self-contained light pen is free of trailing electrical and optical cables that might interfere with plotter speed and accuracy.

Abstract: A catalyst is disclosed which comprises a molybdenum-tungsten-containing complex represented by the formulaMo.sub.a W.sub.b M.sub.c A.sub.d O.sub.

Abstract: A method and system for geophysical exploration including obtaining, processing, displaying and interpreting seismic data. Seismic energy is imparted into the earth's subterranean formation along at least two linear independent lines of action in a seismic survey. At least two linearly independent components of the seismic wave energy imparted along each line of action are detected within the seismic survey. A concord of seismic signals is produced from the seismic wave energy detected for selected combinations of receiver and source locations. An orientation module operates on the concord of the seismic signals so as to generate synthetic concords of seismic signals so as to focus on a particular component of the seismic wave energy in order to infer the geologic characteristics of the earth's subterranean formations.

Abstract: An electrocatalytic process is described for producing higher molecular weight hydrocarbons from lower molecular weight hydrocarbons. The process is conducted in an electrogenerative cell and generally comprises the steps of(A) providing a fuel cell comprising a solid electrolyte having a first surface coated with conductive metal, metal oxide or mixtures thereof capable of catalyzing the reduction of oxygen to oxygen ions, and a second surface coated with metal, metal oxide or mixtures thereof, provided that when both coatings are silver coatings, or the first coating is silver and the second coating is a silver/bismuth coating, the second coating also contains at least one other metal, the two conductive coatings being connected by an external circuit,(B) passing an oxygen-containing gas in contact with the first conductive coating while,(C) passing a low molecular weight hydrocarbon-containing feed gas in contact with the second conductive coating, and(D) recovering higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Ammoxidation of C.sub.3 to C.sub.5 acyclic alkanes with NH.sub.3 and O.sub.2 using (1) a mole ratio of alkane:NH.sub.3 in the range from 2 to 16 and a mole ratio of alkane:O.sub.2 in the range 1 to 10 and (2) a mixture of particulate catalyst compositions, the first being especially effective to promote formation of an unsaturated nitrile and an olefin from the paraffin, and the second catalyst composition being especially effective to promote the conversion of the olefin to the unsaturated nitrile. Catalytic compositions useful in the process are disclosed.

Abstract: Ammoxidation of C.sub.3 to C.sub.5 acyclic alkanes with NH.sub.3 and O.sub.2 using (1) a mole ratio of alkane:NH.sub.3 in the range from 2 to 16 and a mole ratio of alkane:O.sub.2 in the range 1 to 10 and (2) a mixture of particulate catalyst compositions, the first being especially effective to promote formation of an unsaturated nitrile and an olefin from the paraffin, and the second catalyst composition being especially effective to promote the conversion of the olefin to the unsaturated nitrile. Catalytic compositions useful in the process are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel system for the preparation of maleic anhydride by catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon such as butane wherein the catalyst system comprising a mixture of (1) a mixed vanadium-phosphate catalyst and (2) a noncatalytic material comprising an oxide of a Group IA-IIIA element, Pb, In, Sb, Sn, Tl, Bi or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making an active and abrasion resistant catalyst composition comprising at least 5 weight percent alumina support and at most 95 percent of a complex oxide composition having the empirical formula:VSb.sub.m A.sub.a H.sub.b C.sub.c O.sub.x,whereA is one or more of W, Sn, Mo, B, P and Ge;H is one or more of Cu, Ag, Nb, Ta, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, Mn, Zn, Se, Te, Ga, In and As;C is one or more of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and rare earths; andwhere m is from 0.01 and up to 20; a is 0-10; b is 0-20; c is 0-20 (usually 0-1); the ratio (a+b+c):(1+m) is 0.01-6; wherein x is determined by the oxidation state of the other elements, which method comprises mixing a hydrosol or gel of boehmite with a slurry or solution containing the other batch materials containing the elements of said formula, and thereafter drying and calcining the resultant solid.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising lead doped zirconium compounds are particularly effective in an oxidative process for upgrading low molecular weight alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, and especially for upgrading methane to form ethane and ethylene. The catalysts can be employed in a process performed at elevated temperatures and in the presence or absence of gaseous oxygen. The catalysts are substantially free of PbO and uncombined Pb and remain stable for long periods of time.

Abstract: An electrocatalytic process is described for producing synthesis gas from light hydrocarbons such as methane or natural gas. The process generally comprises the steps of(A) providing an electrochemical cell comprising a solid electrolyte having a first surface coated with conductive metal, metal oxide or mixtures thereof capable of facilitating the reduction of oxygen to oxygen ions, and a second surface coated with conductive metal, metal oxide or mixtures thereof, provided that both coatings are stable at the operating temperatures,(B) heating the cell to a temperature of at least 1000.degree. C.,(C) passing an oxygen-containing gas in contact with the first conductive coating,(D) passing methane, natural gas or other light hydrocarbons in contact with the second conductive coating, and(E) recovering synthesis gas.