Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a near-room temperature thermoelectric material ?-Ag2Se. Interstitial, vacancy, and substitutional doping has been used to tune the charge and heat transport properties of the parent ?-Ag2Se structure to enhance thermoelectric performance. The transformation of ?-Ag2Se into ?-Ag2Se at ˜134° C. and the low solubility of dopants are obstacles to this doping approach. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a facile, safe, scalable, and cost-effective benchtop approach to successfully produce doped ?-Ag2Se. The doped materials provide enhancement of thermoelectric performance with a high peak zT of 1.30 at 117° C. and an average zT of about 1.15 in the 25-120° C. range for 0.2 at. % Zn-doped Ag2Se. Zn doping into Ag vacancies/interstitials creates point defects, enhancing the scattering of phonons and tuning the charge carrier properties—leading to the significant suppression of thermal conductivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, such as the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene, using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound, namely an ordered cobalt-aluminum or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a support and at least one specific ordered cobalt-aluminum and/or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound supported thereon, as well as to the use of specific ordered intermetallic cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds as catalysts. The ordered cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds proved to be highly selective and long-term stable catalysts, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene in a large excess of ethylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular selective hydrogenation of at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound comprising reacting the at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises a mixture of an ordered intermetallic compound and an inert material. According to another aspect, the present invention is concerned with the use of a mixture of at least one ordered intermetallic compound and at least one inert material, as a catalyst. The mixtures for use as a catalyst in the present invention can be prepared easily and achieve a superior activity in relation to the prior art, while preserving the high selectivity to the target compounds, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene.

Abstract: Selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, e.g. of acetylene to ethylene, uses a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound. The ordered intermetallic compound comprises at least one metal of type A capable of activating hydrogen, and at least one metal of type B not capable of activating hydrogen. The structure of the ordered intermetallic compound is such that the type A metal is mainly surrounded by atoms of the type B metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, such as the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene, using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound, namely an ordered cobalt-aluminum or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a support and at least one specific ordered cobalt-aluminum and/or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound supported thereon, as well as to the use of specific ordered intermetallic cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds as catalysts. The ordered cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds proved to be highly selective and long-term stable catalysts, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene in a large excess of ethylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular selective hydrogenation of at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound comprising reacting the at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises a mixture of an ordered intermetallic compound and an inert material. According to another aspect, the present invention is concerned with the use of a mixture of at least one ordered intermetallic compound and at least one inert material, as a catalyst. The mixtures for use as a catalyst in the present invention can be prepared easily and achieve a superior activity in relation to the prior art, while preserving the high selectivity to the target compounds, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods of preparing optionally supported, ordered intermetallic palladium gallium compounds, and the corresponding, optionally supported, intermetallic palladium gallium compounds obtainable by these methods. The present invention also pertains to the use of the optionally supported ordered intermetallic palladium gallium compounds as catalysts, such as in selective hydrogenations of alkynes, in particular ethyne, to give the corresponding alkenes. The optionally supported, ordered intermetallic palladium gallium compounds were found to be highly active and selective catalysts in the above hydrogenation reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a purification method for removing impurities containing oxygen from materials, especially boron, by hydrogen-based plasma treatment. The present procedure allows for efficient removal of oxygen while avoiding a thermal treatment that would substantially change the structure of the treated material, or a treatment leaving a reducing agent within the treated material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound. The ordered intermetallic compound comprises at least one metal of type A capable of activating hydrogen, and at least one metal of type B not capable of activating hydrogen, and the structure of the ordered intermetallic compound is such that at least one king of type A metals is mainly surrounded by atoms of the metal of type B. According to another aspect, the present invention is concerned with a catalyst comprising a support and the above ordered intermetallic compound supported on the support. According to still another aspect, the invention pertains to the use of a binary Pd—Ga ordered intermetallic compound as a catalyst. The hydrogenation process and catalysts of the present invention achieve a selectivity to the target compounds, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a purification method for removing oxygen from materials, especially boron, by hydrogen-based plasma treatment.