Supported nickel catalysts with core/shell structures of Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/MgO-Al2O3 were synthesized under multi-bubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) conditions and tested for dry reforming of methane (DRM) to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A supported Ni catalyst made of 10% Ni loading on Al2O3 and MgO-Al2O3, which performed best in the steam reforming of methane (97% methane conversion at 750 degrees C) and in the partial oxidation of methane (96% methane conversion at 800 degrees C), showed also good performance in DRM and excellent thermal stability for the first 150 h. The supported Ni catalysts Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/MgO-Al2O3 yielded methane conversions of 92% and 92.5%, respectively and CO2 conversions of 95.0% and 91.8%, respectively, at a reaction temperature of 800 degrees C with a molar ratio of CH4/CO2 = 1. Those were near thermodynamic equilibrium values. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.