A mesoporous nickel-alumina aerogel catalyst (NAA) was prepared by an epoxide-initiated gelation method and a subsequent supercritical carbon dioxide drying method. For comparison, a mesoporous nickel-alumina xerogel catalyst (NAX) was also prepared by an epoxide-initiated gelation method without supercritical carbon dioxide drying. Both catalysts were applied to the hydrogen production by tri-reforming of methane. The effect of preparation method on the physicochemical properties and catalytic activities of the catalysts was investigated. Although both catalysts exhibited a well-developed mesoporous structure, NAA catalyst retained higher surface area and larger pore volume than NAX catalyst. It was also revealed that NM catalyst retained higher nickel dispersion and larger methane adsorption capacity than NAX catalyst. In the hydrogen production by tri-reforming of methane, both catalysts exhibited a stable catalytic performance. However, NAA catalyst showed higher hydrogen yield and higher CH4 conversion than NAX catalyst. High nickel dispersion and strong affinity with methane of NAA catalyst was responsible for its high catalytic performance. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.