Materials that are useful for absorption enhanced reforming (AER) of a fuel, including absorbent materials and catalyst materials, and methods for using such materials for the conversion of carbon-based fuels to a H.sub.2-rich product gas. The materials can be fabricated by spray processing. The use of the materials in AER can produce a H.sub.2 product gas having a high H.sub.2 content and a low level of carbon oxides. The method for converting carbon-based fuels to a H.sub.2-rich product gas includes forming an intermediate gas product from the carbon-based fuel using a catalyst and contacting the intermediate gas product with an absorbent to absorb CO.sub.2. The absorbent can be regenerated while retaining a high absorption capacity.