The　hydrogenation　of　CO　2　to　CH　4　is　attracting　growing　attention　due　to　the　universal　energy　and　climate　challenges.　In　this　work,　we　present　the　facile　synthesis　of　hierarchical　Ni@C　spheres　composed　of　dispersed　Ni　nanoparticles　confined　in　carbon　shells　as　an　efficient　catalyst　for　lowerature　CO　2　methanation　at　ambient　pressure.　With　Ni-based　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　as　a　precursor,　the　Ni@C　composite　was　produced　by　thermal　annealing　in　a　N　2　atmosphere.　The　MOF-derived　Ni@C　hybrid　with　unique　hollow　and　porous　structures　could　afford　high　surface　area　and　rich　isolated　active　sites　for　CO　2　adsorption/activation　and　redox　processes.　Therefore,　the　Ni@C　catalyst　exhibited　high　activity,　excellent　selectivity　and　superior　stability　for　CO　2　methanation　reaction.　The　possible　intermediates　and　reaction　pathway　of　the　CO　2　conversion　catalysis　were　carefully　investigated　by　CO　2　-TPD　measurements　and　in　situ　FTIR　characterization.　Furthermore,　a　possible　CO　2　methanation　mechanism　over　the　Ni@C　catalyst　was　proposed.　©　2019　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.