In order to improve the redox properties of m-ZrO2, three different amounts of Zn were added to this oxide using a simple and effective technique. The XRD, XPS and Raman techniques showed that Zn did not form a ZnO phase but instead it diffused inside the first layers of m-ZrO2 lattice. The XRD, EPR and also TPD of H2O results indicated the formation of oxygen vacancies when Zn was added to m-ZrO2. These results showed that Zn replaces Zr in the m-ZrO2 lattice forming a surface solid solution (ZnxZr(1-x)O(2-y)). The TPR-H2 experiments exhibited that as the Zn concentration increased,,the H2 consumption raised as well. The TPD of ethanol depicted that Zn catalysts were able to oxidize ethanol whereas m-ZrO2 was not. These results are associated with the higher oxygen mobility and reducibility of thesesamples compared with m-ZrO2. Finally, it was verified that increasing the Zn concentration in the catalysts, increases the CO2 conversion rate in the RWGS reaction, as well. Thus, the formation of the ZnxZr(1-x)O(2-y) surface solid solution generates 0 vacancies and improves the reducibility and O mobility of m-ZrO2. Adding Zn to m-ZrO2 changes the redox properties of the oxide (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.