Paul Kenis, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), developed a new ceramic microreactor prototype that converts fuels, such as methanol or propane, into hydrogen for fuel cells. 

Although microreactors are nothing new, Kenis and his team claim their microreactors are much better than other fuel reformer systems. They are now trying to use the device to convert gasoline and diesel into hydrogen.

The microreactor converts propane at temperatures up to 1,000C. The device also decomposes ammonia at temperatures up to 1,000C. High-temperature operation is essential for peak performance in microreactors.

According to Kenis, the microreactors can be used for powering small appliances, laptop computers, and charging battery packs.