Ni/Y2O3, with Y2O3 support prepared by the conventional precipitation method, was prepared by an impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of Y2O3 and Ni/Y2O3 were characterized by BET, CO2-TPD, NH3-TPD, TPR, XRF and TGA, and compared with those of gamma-Al2O3 and Ni/gamma-Al2O3, respectively. The catalytic performance of Ni/Y2O3 in the reaction of partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas was evaluated and compared with that of Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst, too. The results showed that, Y2O3 was a basic support with few acidic sites while gamma-Al2O3 was an acidic support. NiO particles supported on Y2O3 were more easily to be reduced than those supported on gamma-Al2O3. In the partial oxidation of methane, Ni/Y2O3 catalyst showed high catalytic activity and exhibited better catalytic stability than Ni/gamma-Al2O3. After POM reaction at 700 degrees C for 550 h, methane conversion decreased little and only 2.2 wt% carbon was deposited on Ni/Y2O3 catalyst. Ni/Y2O3 was stable in POM even after a series of reaction temperature variations within the temperature range of 400 similar to 800 degrees C. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.