Stainless steel plates were coated with cobalt talc (Co-3[Si2O5](2)(OH)(2)) and used in a catalytic plate microreactor for producing hydrogen from ethanol steam reforming at low temperature. Cobalt talc was deposited successfully by one-step hydrothermal synthesis from Co(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O and Na2SiO3 at 463 K for 60h and characterized by scanning electron and confocal microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and mechanical stability tests. Catalytic plates did not require any activation treatment and showed fast start-up. At 648 K and W/F-EtOH = 0.5 g min mol(-1) complete ethanol conversion was attained and the yield to the reforming products. H-2 and CO2, was 97 and 90%, respectively, whereas CO was detected at a trace level (<0.1%). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.