The National Science Foundation had a press release this week about some researchers at the University of Wisconsin (Madison) who have developed a new Hydrogen catalyst.

The new catalyst (made from a combination of Tin, Nikel, and Aluminum) is considerably less expensive and as effective than the Platinum catalysts that have been used for biomass-hydrogen extraction in the past.

According to the release, the scientists believe that the long life and low temperatures (relatively speaking) of the new catalyst will allow for local generation of small amounts of hydrogen (for cars, portable devices, etc) as well as larger scale commercial hydrogen production.

The university is now looking to move the technology to the private sector and get it commercialized so that it can be used in future consumer and commercial products.