A NiCe@m-SiO2 yolk-shell framework catalyst was prepared by using the CeO2 modified Ni nanoparticles as the core and the mesoporous SiO2 as the shell. The catalyst showed excellent performance for the dry reforming of methane (DRM). The obtained yolk-shell framework catalyst showed high catalytic activity and stability. The promoted catalytic activity was suggested to be associated with the special structure, and large surface area, which could provide more active centers to the reactants. In addition, the confinement effect of the yolk-shell framework contributed to the stabilization of the Ni nanoparticles in the DRM reaction. This phenomenon also ensured the long lifetime and high stability of yolk-shell framework catalyst. The modification of the catalyst by CeO2 increased the active oxygen species and improved the dispersion of Ni nanoparticles, which enhanced the catalytic activity and suppressed the carbon deposition. To further highlight advantages of the NiCe@m-SiO2 catalyst, a comparison with the Ni/SiO2 and NiCe/SiO2 catalysts was undertaken. The NiCe@m-SiO2 yolk-shell framework catalyst proved to be a promising catalyst for the DRM reaction. Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.