An exhaust after-treatment system for treating an exhaust produced by an engine. The exhaust after-treatment system includes an exhaust passage, a catalytic exhaust after-treatment component in communication with the exhaust passage for treating the exhaust, and a metal hydride module in communication with the exhaust passage that receives a portion of the exhaust therein at a location positioned upstream from the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component. The portion of the exhaust that enters the metal hydride module reacts with a metal hydride contained in the metal hydride module to produce hydrogen gas that facilitates the treating of the exhaust by the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component.