In this contribution, a commercial spherical SiO2 was modified with different amounts of La2O3, and used as the support of Ni catalysts for autothermal reforming of methane in a fluidized-bed reactor. Nitrogen adsorption, XRD and H-2-TPR analysis indicated that La2O3-modified SiO2 had higher surface area, strengthened interaction between Ni and support, and improved dispersion of Ni. CO2-TPD found that La2O3 increased the alkalescence Of SiO2 and improved the activation of CO2. Coking reaction (via both temperature-programmed surface reaction of CH4 (CH4-TPSR) and pulse decomposition of CH4) disclosed that La2O3 reduced the dehydrogenation ability of Ni. CO2-TPO, O-2-TPO (followed after CH4-TPSR) confirmed that only part amount of carbon species derived from methane decomposition could be removed by CO2, and O-2 in feed played a crucial role for the gasification of the inactive surface carbons. Ni/xLa(2)O(3)-SiO2 (x = 10, 15, 30) possessed high activity and excellent stability for autothermal reforming of methane in a fluidized-bed reactor. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.