The surfactant-assisted route by using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide ( CTAB) as surfactant and the combustion method by using sucrose as a chelating agent and template material were used to synthesis the nanocrystalline zirconia as a support for the preparation of nickel catalysts. The supports and catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, mercury porosimetry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM),thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), and hydrogen sulfide chemisorption analyses. The catalytic activity measurements showed that the support synthesis method has a strong effect on the catalytic activity and stability of nickel catalysts. The nickel catalyst that was supported on the zirconia prepared by the surfactant-assisted route showed higher activity and stability during the reaction, which was related to the high thermal stability of the support during the reaction.