Carbon dioxide methanation is well known to offer some advantages and be catalyzed by Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ni. In this study, Ni catalysts supported on various metal oxides were fabricated and their catalytic activity for CO2 methanation was evaluated. The CO2 conversion for most of catalysts drastically increased at 225-250 degrees C and reached a maximal value at 300-350 degrees C. The order of CH4 yield at 250 degrees C was as follows: Ni/Y2O3 > Ni/Sm2O3 > Ni/ZrO2 > Ni/CeO2 > Ni/Al2O3 > Ni/La2O3. The catalytic activity could be partly explained by the basic property of the catalysts. Moreover, the chemical species formed on the catalyst surface during CO2 methanation were examined by in situ infrared spectroscopy. From the obtained results, the difference in the activity depending on the support material of Ni catalysts was discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.