Because nickel catalyst is expensive, the machine can produce hydrogen for fuel cells for less cost. The team envisions a compact version being used by households to generate hydrogen for fuel cells to provide energy for their homes.

The prototype machine makes hydrogen from biomass inside a stainless steel reaction chamber that is 3cm in outer diameter and 30cm tall. The catalyst that drives the reaction is nickel, and it is affixed to a cylindrical block of multiporous alumina that is 2cm in diameter and 2cm tall.

The nickel adheres to all of the inner surfaces of the spongelike alumina, so there is a large surface area where the reaction can take place.

For the reaction, the chamber is heated to 800 C and subjected to a stream of water vapor from above. When powdered cellulose derived from woody biomass is inserted into the chamber, it reacts with the nickel catalyst to yield a mixed gas containing hydrogen. Virtually all of the hydrogen from the cellulose is retrieved in this mixed gas, according to the university team.

The procedure is a modification of the reaction normally used to extract hydrogen from cellulose using a nickel catalyst. But in that process, air and water vapor are supplied from below and churn the catalyst. The constant churning breaks the catalyst apart, necessitating a constant supply of fresh catalyst.