To　reduce　greenhouse　effects,　reduction　of　CO2　in　solid　oxide　electrolyser　has　attracted　considerable　attentions.　Herein,　a　series　of　metallic　nickel　cathodes　with　in　situ　grown　Cr2O3-δ　nano-islands　are　developed　for　CO2　electrolysis　at　high　temperature.　Enhanced　CO2　chemisorption　is　observed　with　distributed　Cr2O3-δ　nanoparticles　on　porous　nickel　backbone　while　the　adsorption　mechanism　is　discussed.　The　optimal　current　density　of　2.07　A　cm−2　is　harvested　when　using　Ni/12.20%　Cr2O3-δ　as　cathode　in　CO2/CO　atmosphere　at　800　°C　and　1.6　V.　Long-term　stability　is　achieved　for　either　CO2/CO　or　pure　CO2　electrolysis　even　after　high-temperature　operation　of　50　h,　indicating　that　the　Ni/Cr2O3-δ　would　be　an　attractive　cathode　for　CO2　electrolysis　at　high　temperature.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.