A set of La0.9Ce0.1CoO3 combustion catalysts, supported onto commercial cordierite monoliths, through either La2O3 or Al2O3 as primer, was prepared with different active phase/primer combinations. Two different salts were tested as precursors of the La-based primer. The behaviour of the catalysts for the methane flameless combustion was compared with that of samples prepared in the absence of any primer. The primers and the active phase were deposited by means of the dip-coating technique. The preparation conditions of the suspension and/or solution for the dip coating were studied, aiming at obtaining a uniform and resistant deposition. The catalysts were characterised, before and after the activity tests, by BET, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The comparison between the catalysts showed that with Al2O3 as primer the catalyst possesses a higher surface area (SA) and hence a higher initial activity, while with La2O3 as primer a very high thermal stability can be obtained. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.