Wasserstoffaktivierung durch Metall- und Metallcarbidkatalysatoren

The catalytic activation of hydrogen plays a central role in the transition towards a hydrogen economy. In the first part of this dissertation, tungsten carbide catalysts are therefore investigated as potential substitutes for platinum in hydrogenation reactions. The focus is particularly on the influence of the synthesis on the structure and activity of the catalysts. The second part of the dissertation deals with the catalytic reduction of N2O with H2, focusing not only on structure-activity relationships of metal catalysts but also on understanding the catalytic processes below room temperature.