Nanostructured magnesium silicate nanopowder with high surface area (619 m(2)/g) synthesized by hydrothermal method and modified by alkaline earth metal oxides (MgO, CaO, and BaO) was used as support for nickel based catalysts in dry reforming of methane. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by N-2 adsorption (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature programmed reduction and oxidation (TPR-TPO) techniques. The results revealed that addition of modifiers decreased the specific surface area and shifted the pore size distributions to smaller sizes. TPR analysis revealed that the reduction temperature decreased by the addition of modifiers to the catalyst. The catalytic results showed that the catalytic performance enhanced by the addition of promoters and modified catalyst by MgO exhibited the highest catalytic performance. Also, Ni/MgSiO3 catalysts modified by different contents of MgO were prepared and the results showed that the amount of accumulated carbon on the surface of the catalyst decreased with the increase in MgO content. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.