Catalytic　combustion　holds　great　promise　for　eliminating　unburned　methane　released　by　the　natural　gas　industry,　and　the　crucial　factor　is　the　development　of　cost-effective　and　efficient　catalysts.　Herein,　the　silicon　component　was　introduced　into　nickel　oxide　by　simultaneously　regulating　the　precipitation　of　nickel　precursors　and　the　hydrolysis　of　silicon　precursors.　The　generation　of　SiO4　groups　in　NiO　inhibited　the　growth　and　sintering　of　NiO　grains,　meanwhile　promoting　the　formation　of　active　Ni2+　and　adsorbed　oxygen　species　for　activation　and　oxidation　of　methane.　With　the　increase　of　Si　content,　the　existence　of　surface　nickel　silicate　on　NiO　further　improved　the　sinter　resistance　of　NiO,　but　caused　the　diminish　of　Ni2+　and　surface　adsorbed　oxygen　species.　The　catalytic　activity　and　stability　were　co-enhanced　via　facilely　tuning　the　multiple　Ni–Si　interactions.　The　catalyst　with　abundant　SiO4　groups　and　negligible　nickel　silicate　exhibited　considerably　higher　catalytic　activity,　sinter-resistance　and　water-resistance　than　NiO　toward　methane　combustion.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd