Co3O4/CeO2 composite oxides with different cobalt loading (5, 15, 30, 50, 70 wt.% as Co3O4) were prepared by co-precipitation method and investigated for the oxidation of methane under stoichiometric conditions. Pure oxides, Co3O4 and CeO2 were used as reference. Characterization studies by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, temperature programmed reduction/oxidation (TPR/TPO) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were carried out. An improvement of the catalytic activity and thermal stability of the composite oxides was observed with respect to pure Co3O4 in correspondence Of Co3O4-CeO2 containing 30% by weight Of Co3O4. The combined effect of cobalt oxide and ceria, at this composition, strongly influences the morphological and redox properties of the composite oxides, by dispersing the Co3O4 phase and promoting the efficiency of the Co3+-Co2+ redox couple. The presence in the sample Co3O4(30 wt.%)-CeO2 of a high relative amount of Ce3+/(Ce4+ + Ce3+) as detected by XPS confirms the enhanced oxygen mobility. The catalysts stability under reaction conditions was investigated by XRD and XPS analysis of the used samples, paying particular attention to the Co3O4 phase decomposition. Methane oxidation tests were performed over fresh (as prepared) and thermal aged samples (after ageing at 750 degrees C for 7 h, in furnace). The resistance to water vapour poisoning was evaluated for pure Co3O4 and Co3O4(30 wt.%)-CeO2, performing the tests in the presence of 5 vol.% H2O. A methane oxidation test upon hydrothermal ageing (flowing at 600 degrees C for 16 h a mixture 5 vol.% H2O + 5 vol.%O-2 in He) of the Co3O4(30 wt.%)-CeO2 sample was also performed. All the results confirm the superiority of this composite oxide. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.