This paper describes the fabrication of Ni-CeO2 catalysts for ethanol steam reforming via an easy ball-milling process using skeletal Ni and powder CeO2 as precursors. Hydrogen production from reforming of biomass-derived oxygenates is one of the most promising energy acquisition methods. Although Ni-based catalysts have been intensively employed in reforming reactions, they commonly suffer severe deactivation due to sintering of metal particles and carbon deposition. The prepared Ni-CeO2 catalysts were examined via BET, XRD, TPR, TEM, and compared to a reference Ni/CeO2 catalysts prepared by a conventional method. Due to the nanoconfinement of nickel particles by the support and the strong metal-support interaction, the Ni-CeO2 catalyst has superior ability for anti-sintering and -coke, thus has high reactivity and stability in reforming reactions. This preparation method is facile and favorable from the practical point of view. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.