Highly active and stable Ni-Cu supported catalysts prepared by combustion synthesis for hydrogen production from ethanol

•Ni, Cu, and Ni-Cu catalysts supported on ceria and silica were prepared by Impregnated Support Combustion Synthesis (ISCS).•The activity vs time on stream (TOS) of the above catalysts was studied during ethanol decomposition.•Ceria supported catalysts deactivated after few h of TOS but the silica supported catalysts were stable for 100h.•Characterization techniques indicate that the ISCS on silica results in partial encapsulation of the support.•In addition, Cu-Ni alloy formation results in further increase of stability by decreasing C deposition.