A series of Co3O4/HZSM-5 catalysts with different Co3O4 loadings were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation followed by thermal calcination or dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma decomposition. Their catalytic performances for the complete combustion of methane were evaluated from 300 to700 degrees C. The plasma decomposed samples exhibit much higher catalytic activity than the calcined ones. Among all the samples tested, the plasma decomposed catalyst with 20 wt.% loading of Co3O4 possessesthe highest catalytic activity with T-10% (10% CH(4)conversion) at 300 degrees C and T-100 (complete conversion) at 550 degrees C. The excellent catalytic activity of the DBD plasma decomposed samples would attribute to well-dispersed Co3O4, enhanced low-temperature reducibility, high content of lattice oxygen and adsorbed oxygen species, as well as the low formation tendency of the intermediate of Co-formate. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.