Highly efficient and non-noble metal-based Ni/ZrO2 catalyst templated with Ni/UiO-66 precursor was successfully prepared and applied to CO selective methanation in H-2-rich gases. This catalyst showed excellent activity and selectivity in an extremely wide temperature window of 215-350 degrees C, and it also had high stability with no deactivation during a long-term stability test (120 h). The increased specific surface area, smaller crystallite size (3.5 nm) and higher dispersion (15.3%) of Ni nanoparticles, and the enhanced chemisorption capability for CO might contribute to its excellent performance. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.