A method of making a mercury based compound, a mercury based compound, and methods of using the mercury based compound and uses of the mercury based compound are disclosed. The mercury-based compound is in powder form and has the general chemical formula: M1.sub.aX.sub.b, where M1 is Hg, MxcMyd or a combination thereof, with Mx being Hg and My being an arbitrary element; wherein X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, sulphate nitrate or a combination thereof, wherein a, b, c and d are numbers between 0.1 and 10, wherein particles of the powder have a minimum average dimension of width of at least 50 nm and a maximum average dimension of width of at most 20 ?m, and wherein the mercury-based compound is paramagnetic and is present in an excited state.

A method of making a mercury based compound, a mercury based compound, and methods of using the mercury based compound and uses of the mercury based compound are disclosed. The mercury-based compound is in powder form and has the general chemical formula: M1.sub.aX.sub.b, where M1 is Hg, MxcMyd or a combination thereof, with Mx being Hg and My being an arbitrary element; wherein X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, sulphate nitrate or a combination thereof, wherein a, b, c and d are numbers between 0.1 and 10, wherein particles of the powder have a minimum average dimension of width of at least 50 nm and a maximum average dimension of width of at most 20 ?m, and wherein the mercury-based compound is paramagnetic and is present in an excited state.

A method for producing a metal nitride and/or a metal carbide, a metal nitride and/or metal carbide optionally produced according to the method, and the use of the metal nitride and/or carbide in catalysis optionally catalytic hydroprocessing. Optionally, the method comprises: i) contacting at least one metal oxide comprising at least one first metal M.sup.1 with a cyanometallate comprising at least one second metal M.sup.2 to form a reaction mixture; and, ii) subjecting the reaction mixture to a temperature of at least 300 C. for a reaction period. Optionally, the metal nitride and/or metal carbide is a metal nitride comprising tungsten nitride.

Some examples of a method for manufacturing an electrode material for electrolytic hydrogen generation are described. Tungsten salt and nickel salt are mixed in a determined molar ratio on a carbon support by effectively controlling synthesis temperature and composition. Water and adsorbed oxygen, produced by mixing the tungsten salt and nickel salt are removed. Then, methane gas is flowed over the mixture resulting in the electrode material. The electrode material is suitable for use as a catalyst in electrolytic hydrogen generation processes, for example, at an industrial scale, to produce large quantities of hydrogen.

Some examples of a method for manufacturing an electrode material for electrolytic hydrogen generation are described. Tungsten salt and nickel salt are mixed in a determined molar ratio on a carbon support by effectively controlling synthesis temperature and composition. Water and adsorbed oxygen, produced by mixing the tungsten salt and nickel salt are removed. Then, methane gas is flowed over the mixture resulting in the electrode material. The electrode material is suitable for use as a catalyst in electrolytic hydrogen generation processes, for example, at an industrial scale, to produce large quantities of hydrogen.

A process for reacting silicone with hydrothermal water is at temperatures from 140? C. or supercritical water. A solids mixture containing silicon is formed.

A process for reacting silicone with hydrothermal water is at temperatures from 140? C. or supercritical water. A solids mixture containing silicon is formed.

A method for synthesizing high-purity ultrafine ZrCSiC composite powder is provided. The high-purity ultrafine ZrCSiC composite powder is prepared by utilizing zirconium silicate only or zirconium silicate with one or both of zirconium oxide or silica sol as a zirconium source and a silicon source material, utilizing sucrose or glucose as a carbon source material, and utilizing acrylamide monomer and N,N-methylene diacrylamide cross-linking agent as a gel material.

A method for synthesizing high-purity ultrafine ZrCSiC composite powder is provided. The high-purity ultrafine ZrCSiC composite powder is prepared by utilizing zirconium silicate only or zirconium silicate with one or both of zirconium oxide or silica sol as a zirconium source and a silicon source material, utilizing sucrose or glucose as a carbon source material, and utilizing acrylamide monomer and N,N-methylene diacrylamide cross-linking agent as a gel material.

An aqueous solution composition contains more than or equal to 10 mass % and less than or equal to 30 mass % of tungstate ions relative to 1 kg of water, more than or equal to 0.05 mass % and less than or equal to 5 mass % of transition metal ions relative to 1 kg of water, and a remainder of counter anions and water. The transition metal ions include cobalt ions. The counter anions include organic acid ions. The organic acid ions are multidentate ligands.