Materials that are useful for absorption enhanced reforming (AER) of a fuel, including absorbent materials such as Group 1 and Group 2 metal oxides that are adapted to absorb CO.sub.2 and catalyst materials such as reforming catalysts and water-gas shift catalysts, and methods for using the materials. 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.