In　this　work,　metal　oxides　with　different　phase　structures　(stannic　oxide,　zirconia　and　tin-zirconium　binary　oxide)　were　designed　to　construct　palladium-based　catalysts.　The　factors　affecting　methane　combustion　over　catalysts　were　revealed　by　exploring　the　reasons　for　the　enhancement　and　depression　of　catalytic　performance　under　various　reaction　conditions.　The　formation　of　SnxZr1−xO2　solid　solutions　not　only　generated　abundant　oxygen　vacancies　to　improve　the　reducibility　of　PdO　and　the　redox　of　Pd↔PdO,　but　also　induced　the　formation　of　active　PdOx,　conjointly　leading　to　the　excellent　catalytic　activity　and　hydrothermal　stability.　Under　SO2-containing　atmosphere,　the　thermodynamically　favorable　formation　of　stable　Zr(SO4)2　caused　the　significant　diminish　of　oxygen　vacancies　and　active　Pd　step　sites　in　catalysts.　Consequently,　the　sulfur-resistance　and　regeneration　performance　of　Zr-containing　catalysts　were　inferior　to　those　of　Pd/SnO2.　The　above　contrast　manifested　that　both　oxygen　vacancies　and　active　palladium　species　were　responsible　for　the　efficient　and　stable　methane　combustion.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.