Three rhodium catalysts supported on rare earth oxides with redox properties, Rh/CeO2, Rh/Pr6O11, and Rh/Tb4O7, were tested for their ability to trigger oxidative reforming of n-butane at room temperature. Only Rh/CeO2 triggered the oxidative reforming, owing to the heat generated by the spontaneous oxidation of the CeO2-x species produced by prior reduction of the supported catalyst with H-2. Although the three rare earth oxides were reduced to CeO1.91. Pr2O3, and Tb2O3, respectively, by H-2 at >= 873 K. CeO1.91 was the only reduced oxide that was oxidized upon exposure to O-2 at room temperature. These results indicate that the ability of the reduced oxide support to undergo oxidation at room temperature was crucial for triggering oxidative reforming of n-butane at room temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.