Nickel-based catalyst is highly active for hydrogen production through methane cracking reaction at moderate reaction temperature. However, Ni catalyst is easily deactivated by carbon encapsulation. In order to solve this problem, this research studies the effect of nickel precursors-nickel acetate (NA), nickel carbonate (NC) and nickel nitrate (NN)-on the activity and stability of nickel/bimodal porous silica (Ni/BPS) catalyst in methane cracking reaction. It was found that these nickel precursor solutions had different pH values, resulting in different interactions between surface silanol groups of BPS supports and Ni. Among these catalysts, Ni(NC)/BPS catalyst exhibited high nickel dispersion and weak interaction between Ni and BPS support; it then gave the highest CH4 conversion and better stability compared to the other catalysts. In addition, H-2 yield of Ni(NC)/BPS catalyst was 2.90 and 1.40 times higher than those of Ni(NA)/BPS and Ni(NN)/BPS catalysts, respectively. Moreover, carbon nanofibers were grown in Ni(NC)/BPS and Ni(NN)/BPS catalysts, whereas carbon nanotubes were formed on Ni(NA)/BPS catalyst, due to the different nickel particle sizes, dispersions, and Ni-BPS support interactions. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.