A series of Ni-Cu bimetallic catalysts supported on sepiolite (NixCuy/SEP) were prepared by co-precipitation method. The all as-prepared catalysts were characterized by using XRD, FT-IR, H-2-TPR, and TEM. The results shown the Ni-Cu alloys were successfully synthesized in bimetallic catalysts, and the addition of Cu promoter decreased the particles size, improved the redox ability and metal dispersion of bimetallic catalysts. Specially, the Ni1Cu0.25/SEP catalyst exhibited the smallest particles (10.2 nm) and highest metal dispersion (8.2%). In addition, the catalytic performance of prepared catalysts was evaluated during the mixture of phenol and ethanol steam reforming (PESR) reaction under the following conditions: steam to carbon ratio (S/C) = 1, WHSV = 3.2 h(-1) and different temperatures (550 degrees C and 650 degrees C). The experimental results shown the high temperature was positive for increasing carbon conversion and H-2 yield. Moreover, the Ni1Cu0.25/SEP catalyst exhibited the highest carbon conversion (83.5%) and H-2 yield (67.5%) with relating to the lowest CH4 selectivity (8.8%), which was attributed to the formation of Ni-Cu alloy and the smallest particle size in Ni1Cu0.25/SEP catalyst, leading to inhibit methanation reaction and enhance the steam reforming (SR) of methane. Additionally, the effect of steam S/C ratios (1, 5, 8) on the carbon conversion and H2 yield over Ni1Cu0.25/SEP was also tested at 650 degrees C, it shown that the carbon conversion was increased with the increase of S/C. Meanwhile, the test of stability was carried out over different catalysts at 650 degrees C. It found that the Ni1Cu0.25/ SEP catalyst exhibited the outstanding stability during 24 h on steam, while the N(1)aCu(0)/SEP and Ni0Cu1/SEP shown rapidly deactivation after 10 h on steam. In order to illuminate the deactivation mechanism, the spent catalysts after 24 h of reaction were also characterized by XRD, TEM and TGA. The results shown Ni1Cu0.25/SEP catalyst exhibited smaller amount of carbon deposition in comparison with Ni1Cu0/SEP and Ni0Cu1/SEP catalysts, suggesting that the formation of Ni Cu alloy plays an important role in resisting to coke formation. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.