TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The catalyst is hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or phosphoric acid. It comprises transition metal(s) from the metal families of nickel, cobalt, or iron. It is ruthenium and/or cobalt. It comprises a substrate having molecules of the transition metal. The substrate is metal, metal oxide, or carbonaceous material. The aqueous fuel includes a borohydride salt and a hydroxide compound. The triborohydride salt is sodium borohydride, the borohydride salt is sodium borohydride, and the hydroxide compound is sodium hydroxide.Preferred Method: The acid and the aqueous fuel containing the triborohydride salt are stored in separate containers. The suspension is agitated during the reaction.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The contacting mechanism comprises a containment system for the catalyst so that the catalyst can be moved into and out of contact with the aqueous fuel. The hydrogen generation system includes a small buffer tank where a constant level of hydrogen gas is maintained for immediate demand of hydrogen gas, and a gas-liquid separator to separate hydrogen from the effluent stream. A portion of the water in the aqueous fuel is obtained from the reaction product of a hydrogen-consuming device, which is operably connected with the system. The hydrogen-consuming device is a fuel cell, a combustion engine, and/or a gas turbine.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Material: The substrate is plastic, or polymer.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - TEXTILES AND PAPER - Preferred Material: The substrate can be textile.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Material: The substrate can be ceramic.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The non-aqueous solvent is diglyme. Preferred Definitions:    M = Li+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, or preferably Na+.    EXAMPLE - A mixture of cobalt and ruthenium metals was deposited on a nickel fiber mat. A sample of the resultant catalyst was placed in a 0.1 M (0.63 wt.%) aqueous solution of sodium triborohydride (NaB3H8). The evolution of hydrogen gas was evidenced by effervescence in the solution around the metal catalyst, and detected by a hand-held hydrogen gas detector. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours until gas evolution ceased. The catalyst was removed from the solution, and the water was removed via rotary evaporation to leave a solid residue. Analysis of the resulting material exhibited signals indicative of a mixture of sodium borate and boric acid, with no boron-hydrogen bonds present, indicating complete conversion of the triborohydride.