NOVELTY - A catalyst composition comprises high surface area support particles, islands of early transition metal interstitial compound attached to support and an active metal disposed on at least one portion of interstitial compound. The high surface area support particles are alumina, silica, carbon, titania and/or zeolite. The interstitial compound is hydride, boride, carbide or nitride of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and/or tungsten. The active metal is copper, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, silver and/or gold.    USE - Catalyst composition is used for manufacturing hydrogen (claimed) used in petroleum refining, powering fuel cells, production and processing of chemicals, and manufacturing semiconductor material.    ADVANTAGE - The catalyst composition has high surface area and density, and is economical.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A catalyst composition comprises a high surface area support particles, islands of an early transition metal interstitial compound attached to the high surface area support and an active metal disposed on at least one portion of interstitial compound. The high surface area support particles are alumina, silica, carbon, titania and/or zeolite. The interstitial compound is hydride, boride, carbide or nitride of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and/or tungsten. The active metal is copper, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, silver and/or gold. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) preparation of catalyst composition, which involves depositing an ionic species of metal on a core comprising an interstitial compound applied to high surface area substrate under condition where the ionic species is subsequently reduced in situ to the zero valent state on the surface of the interstitial compound; and    (2) manufacture of hydrogen, which involves performing water gas shift reaction or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction of carbon monoxide and water, in presence of catalyst.