A series of Ni-Mo/CeZr-MgAl(O) catalysts consisting of different mass fraction of CeZrO2 were prepared using a two-step coprecipitation method. The performances of the catalysts for CH4-CO2 reforming were investigated at 800 degrees C under atmospheric pressure and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 60 L/(hg(cat)). Two representative catalysts which contained 0% and 10% CeZrO2 were further reacted at 900 degrees C to preliminarily study the feasibility of establishing a balance between carbon deposition and elimination on the two catalysts. All catalysts were characterized using N-2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, temperature-programmed reduction, temperature programmed desorption of CO2, thermogravimetry, and temperature-programmed oxidation. Compared with the catalytic performance of CZ0 without the addition of CeZrO2 at 800 degrees C, the results show that the formation of the admixture Ce0.8Zr0.2-MgAl(O) is beneficial to the activation of CH4. In addition, the stability test of CZ10 catalyst for 220 h revealed that the circulation of Ce4+/Ce3+ can eliminate the coke on the catalysts and extend stability when the reforming reaction is carried out at above 900 degrees C. The results may be explained on the basis of assumption about the mechanism of carbon deposition and elimination over Ni-Mo/CeZr-MgAl(O) metal oxide catalysts. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.