Metal oxides Y2Ce2-xRuxO7-delta (x = 0-0.4) with partial substitution of Run+ cations in the host structure were synthesized to study their catalytic activity on oxidative steam reforming of ethanol (OSRE). The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The performances investigated by varied temperatures, Ru ion content, carbon-to-oxygen ratios and long-term stability. The lowest activation temperature on OSRE is 300 degrees C, which is significantly lower than that of La2Ce2-xRuxO7-delta (400 degrees C). The cell dimension of Y2Ce2-xRuxO7-delta was reduced compare to La2Ce2-xRuxO7-delta for the replacement of the Y3+ ion with La3+ ion. The reduced unit cell in the host structure not only increase the surface composition of the Ce4+ ions, but also induce the synergetic effect of Run+/Ru4+ (n > 4) and Ce4+/Ce3+, which lead to the enhanced OSRE activity. The optimized catalyst Y2Ce1.6Ru0.4O7-delta showed selectivity of hydrogen S-H2 = 84(4)% (Y-H2 = 2.5(1) mol/mol EtOH) and carbon monoxide S-CO = 48(1)% for long-term stability test at T = 300 degrees C, C/O = 0.5, and O-2/C2H5OH = 1.5. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.