Nickel catalysts supported in zirconium-doped ceria were optimized for methane steam reforming (MSR) at severe reaction conditions, i.e. low temperature and stoichometric water/methane feed ratio. The solids prepared were characterized by various techniques (BET, XRD, H-2-chemisorption, OSC, H-2-TPR, Raman and XPS), allowing a deeper understanding of the nickel-ceria based support interplay. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.