In this article, La-Al2O3 and Ce0.65Zr0.30La0.05O2 were used as support to prepare palladium catalyst for methanol decomposition to synthesis gas at low temperature. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and NH3-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). XPS results confirm that palladium exists as oxidation state in the two catalysts and has strong interaction with ceria-zirconia solid solution. The result of H-2-TPR reveals that the reduction temperature of PdO slightly shifts to high temperature due to the strong interaction between palladium and Ce0.65Zr0.30La0.05O2. For Pd/Ce0.65Zr0.30La0.05O2 catalyst, the higher oxygen storage capacity is beneficial to the Pd species in a more active Pd delta+ state. Furthermore, the results of the methanol decomposition reaction show that the Pd/Ce0.65Zr0.30La0.05O2 catalyst has high catalytic activity. The conversion of methanol achieves 100% at 220 degrees C over Pd/Ce0.65Zr0.30La0.05O2. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.