In　CH4−CO2　reforming,　the　activity　and　coke　resistance　of　hydrotalcite-derived　Ni-Cu/Mg(Al)O　alloy　catalysts　show　strong　dependence　on　Ni-Cu　composition.　At　reaction　conditions　of　T　=　873　K,　CH4/CO2/N2　=　1/1/2,　SV　=　60　000　mL　h–1　g–1,　and　TOS　=　25　h,　the　alloy　catalysts　with　bulk　Cu/Ni　ratio　of　0.25–0.5　exhibit　good　activity,　stability,　and　coke　resistance,　while　those　with　lower　and　higher　Cu/Ni　ratios　deactivate　due　to　severe　coking.　The　optimized　Ni-Cu/Mg(Al)O　catalysts　show　graphitic　carbon　which　is　only　1/85–1/136　that　of　Ni/Mg(Al)O,　highlighting　the　efficacy　of　Ni-Cu　alloying　for　coke　suppression.　Moreover,　the　Ni-Cu/Mg(Al)O　catalyst　of　highest　activity　performs　well　at　temperature　as　low　as　723　K,　appearing　as　an　effective　non-precious　catalysts　for　low-temperature　CH4−CO2　reforming.　It　is　disclosed　that　a　Cu　composition　of　25–45%　is　appropriate　for　the　alloy　catalyst　to　perform　well.　The　results　of　activation　energy　measurement,　CH4-TPSR/O2-TPO,　and　CO2-TPSR/H2-TPR　indicate　that　alloying　Ni　with　Cu　inhibits　CH4　decomposition,　and　Cu　provides　sites　for　CO2　dissociation　to　yield　more　active　oxygen　species　suitable　for　carbon　gasification,　consequently　lowering　coke　deposition　and　enhancing　catalytic　stability.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.