CeO2–ZrO2–Al2O3　composite　oxides　supported　palladium　catalysts　(Pd/CZA)　are　promising　candidates　for　catalytic　oxidation　reactions.　However,　the　efficient　and　stable　oxidation　of　methane　over　Pd-based　catalysts　remains　a　longstanding　challenge.　Herein,　we　present　a　facile　strategy　to　boost　the　catalytic　performance　of　Pd/CZA　through　elaborately　tuning　the　phase　structure　of　supports.　Calcining　supports　at　relatively　high　temperatures　(1200,　1300　°C)　induced　the　phase　transition　of　alumina　(from　γ-to　α-)　and　the　development　of　CeO2–ZrO2　solid　solution　(CZ).　The　weak　interaction　between　α-Al2O3　and　PdO　resulted　in　an　improved　reducibility　of　catalysts.　Meanwhile,　the　higher　oxygen　mobility　originated　from　well-crystallized　CZ　phase　contributed　to　the　reoxidation　of　Pd　to　PdO,　giving　rise　to　abundant　surface　active　Pd2+　species.　Coupled　with　the　hydrophobicity　of　α-Al2O3,　the　catalyst　prepared　with　CZA　supports　calcined　at　1300　°C　demonstrated　an　excellent　low-temperature　activity,　astounding　stability　and　greatly　enhanced　water　resistance　towards　methane　combustion.　©　2021　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC