TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The catalyst precursor can be of formula M-XOn-YO2/Al2O3, M-V2O5-ZrO2/Al2O3, Ru-V2O5/Al2O3, Ni-V2O5-TiO2/Al2O3, Ni-Mn2O3-ZrO3/Al2O3, Ni-CeO2TiO2/Al2O3, Ni-CeO2-ZrO2/Al2O3, Ni-MoO3-ZrO2/Al2O3, Ni-MoO3-TiO2/Al2O3, Ni-V2O5-ZrO2/Al2O3. The ZrO2 is derived from zirconium isopropoxide or zirconium n-butoxide.M = elemental reduced transition metal or mixture of elemental reduced transition metals from Ni (preferably), Pd, Pt, Rh, or Ru;XOn = Mn2O3, V2O5 (preferably), or CeO2;YO2 = TiO2 or preferably ZrO2.Preferred Composition: The molar ratio of XOn:YO2 is 2:1-1:15, preferably 2:1-1:4. The weight percentage of ruthenium is at least5%. The molar ratio of V:Zr is 1:2-1:3 or 1:4. The weight percentage of platinum, palladium, rhodium, or ruthenium is 1%. The weight percentage of nickel is 5-15 or 5 or 10 wt.%.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The catalyst is formed in situ in a reactor by reducing the catalyst precursor in contact with a hydrocarbon feed in the reactor, with a hydrogen gas-rich stream at 400-600degreesC, with a helium gas-rich stream at 400-800degreesC, or a carbon monoxide gas-rich stream at 400-800degreesC. The hydrocarbon feed is reacted with steam in the presence of the catalyst at 300-1000degreesC, a total pressure of approximately at least2 atm, and a molar ratio of steam to carbon in the hydrocarbon feed of approximately 1:1 to approximately 3:1. The fuel space velocity throughout the catalyst packed bed is up to 80 g fuel/g cat. hour. The process yields hydrogen in 30 seconds of reactor start-up to generate around 50 kW of fuel cell power.Preferred Composition: The hydrocarbon feed contains at least 20 ppm or 5-100 ppm of sulfur species. The hydrocarbon-rich product comprises approximately 60 to approximately 80% hydrogen on a volumetric basis. It comprises carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in a molar ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide of less than approximately 2.Preferred Component: The hydrocarbon feed is methane, propane, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, and/or diesel. The alcohol is methanol. Preferred Definitions:    XOn = redox active oxide of lanthanide.    EXAMPLE - To prepare 22 g Ni-V2O5-ZrO2/Al2O3 catalyst precursor containing 10% nickel, 9.91 g nickel nitrate hexahydrate (NiNO3.6H2O) was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and acidified with nitric acid and stirred overnight. A 20 g vanadium pentoxide-zirconium oxide/aluminum oxide was added and stirred for 24 hours. The solvent was removed, dried in at 110degreesC for 4 hours, and calcined at 600degreesC. The catalyst composition was tested and exhibited high hydrogen generation catalytic activity and great stability with time.