Abstract: The invention relates to a molded block (20) of concrete. The molded block (20) is suitable for building a supporting wall (21) which is inclined to the vertical against an earth backfill (22) and in which the individual molded blocks (20) are arranged one above the other in layers. The molded block (20) is formed as a cavity block in such a way that, with the molded blocks (20) arranged offset in relation to one another in layers in a supporting wall (21), the load-transferring regions of the molded blocks (20) arranged above or below one another are arranged essentially in line in the load-transferring direction. This makes it possible for supporting walls to be built from molded blocks with considerably larger apertures than in the prior art, with the same or greater load-bearing capacity.

Abstract: Methods and resulting structures for thermally stable metal/silicon contacts are described. The resulting contacts are aluminum which is alloyed with at least one noble metal from the group of Pd and Pt wherein at least one region of the contact is further alloyed with silicon.