Abstract: The invention relates to aprocess for producing a catalyst comprising an intermetallic com-pound comprisingmixing of a salt comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Auand Ru, a salt comprising a metal selected from the group consist-ing of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba,Sc, Y, La and the lanthanides, and a reducing agentcomprising a salt,wherein the mixing is carried out at a temperature where all compo-nents are solid; reacting the mixture obtained to form an intermetallic compound by heating said to a temperature in the range between the melting temperature of thereducing agent and the melting temperature of the intermetallic compound and holdingthe temperaturefor1 minute to 600 minutes; and washing the mixture to removeby-products andremainders of the salt of the cations of the reducing agent and at least one of the anions of the salts used in the first step. The invention further relates to a catalyst obtained by the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a catalyst comprising an intermetallic compound comprising following steps: (a) Dissolving a metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu and Yb in liquid ammonia, (b) Adding nanoparticles comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au and Ru or a halide of at least one of these metals and an inorganic salt to the solution obtained in step (a), (c) Removing the liquid ammonia, (d) Annealing the mixture of step (c) at a temperature in the range between 200° C. and the melting temperature of the intermetallic compound wherein the intermetallic compound is formed, (e) Washing the intermetallic compound achieved in step (d). The invention further relates to a catalyst obtained by the process.