Fuel cells (FC) produce electricity in a continuous mode through a catalytic reaction and have many possible applications, as for example, in the transportation sector substituting the combustion engines. These devices can be regarded as a free emission technology if the fuel used in them is obtained in a renewable mode, such as hydrogen from the reforming of light alcohols obtained from biomass fermentation or gasification. In fact, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) use hydrogen as fuel that, in turn, has to be free of carbon monoxide (CO) since the later chemical species poisons the platinum based catalyst applied in the electrochemical process. This review aims at clarifying how multicomponent catalysts can be used in the hydrogen production from light alcohols reforming to overcome the limitations of current catalysts. Specifically, their low thermal stability, the CO formation that is not suitable for FC use, the carbon (coke) production that poisons the reforming catalyst, or byproducts (i.e. CH₄) generation that reduces the hydrogen amount produced. Special emphasis is paid to the applicability of theoretical methods for the study and development of improved multicomponent catalysts for light alcohols reforming.

燃料电池（FC）通过催化反应以连续模式发电，并具有许多可能的应用，例如在替代内燃机的运输领域。如果这些设备中使用的燃料以可再生方式获得，例如来自生物质发酵或气化获得的轻质醇重整制得的氢气，则这些设备可被视为自由排放技术。实际上，质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）使用氢气作为燃料，而氢气又必须不含一氧化碳（CO），因为后一种化学物质会使电化学过程中使用的铂基催化剂中毒。这篇综述旨在阐明如何在轻质醇重整制氢中使用多组分催化剂，以克服当前催化剂的局限性。特别，₄）减少氢气产生量的产生。特别强调了理论方法在研究和开发用于轻质醇重整的改良多组分催化剂方面的适用性。