Cobalt-doped　ordered　mesoporous　alumina　(Co-OMA-y)　with　intrinsic　activity　for　methane　combustion　were　synthesized　through　a　sol-gel　method.　Results　indicated　that　for　Co-OMA-y　and　supported　Pd/Co-OMA-y　catalysts,　the　cobalt　doping　amount　affected　the　surface　concentration　of　Co2+　and　active　oxygen　species,　caused　different　catalytic　activity.　Pd/Co-OMA-6　presented　abundant　active　oxygen　species,　which　favored　for　stabilizing　PdO　phase,　inducing　its　lower　activation　energy　and　higher　activity.　For　Pd-Co　bimetallic　catalysts　with　same　composition　(6　wt.%　Co,　0.5　wt.%　Pd),　different　introducing　methods　of　cobalt　altered　the　microstructure,　hence　affecting　the　synergism　of　bimetals.　For　Pd/6CoDEG/OMA,　the　better　reducibility　of　PdO　made　the　reaction　proceed　through　Mars-van-Krevelen　mechanism,　cobalt　oxides　contributed　to　the　reoxidation　of　palladium　species,　meanwhile　the　optimal　surface　acidity　and　basicity　benefited　the　methane　adsorption,　therefore　invoking　the　excellent　activity,　long-term　and　hydrothermal　stability.　The　catalytic　performance　was　greatly　improved　after　stability　test　due　to　the　redistribution　of　active　species.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.