A gas-generating mixture consists of a nitrogen-rich and low-carbon fuel from the group comprising nitroguanadine (NIGU), triaminoguanidine nitrate (TAGN), diguanidinium-5,5'-azotetrazolate (GZT) or 3-nitro-1,2,3-triazol-5-on (NTO) and copper diammindinitrate Cu(NH<-3 )<-2 (NO<-3 )<-2 as oxidizer and a pyrophoric metal or such a metal alloy on a carrier catalyst.