We tested the catalytic performance of Ni-supported Ru nanoparticles in silica for the first time. The Method for supporting Ru nanoparticles on Ni included the formation of nano-Ru/nano-SiO2, from which silica was digested in the presence of Ni. This provided a nano-Ru/Ni catalyst with an oxide passivation layer on the surface in which unalloyed metallic Ru and Ni were detected. This system, which was tested as a potential methanation catalyst, appears to be highly productive and efficient at low temperature, e.g. ca. 100% conversion can be achieved at ca. 200 degrees C at a high TOF value of 940 h(-1). The longer reaction duration deactivated the catalyst by carbon deposition; however, it did not destroy the catalyst, which could be fully reactivated by hydrogen treatment. In turn, the highest methane productivity (among nano-Re, Rh, Ir or Pd/Ni) given by TOF value of ca. 13855 h(-1) at higher temperature (460 degrees C) was observed for the nano-Re/Ni catalyst. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.