\u3cp\u3ePOSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes) nanotechnology was applied for preparation of efficient Ni catalysts for hydrogen production through autothermal reforming of methane (ATR of CH\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e). The novel metal-POSS precursor [Nickel (II) ‒ HeptaisobutylPOSS (C\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3eH\u3csub\u3e9\u3c/sub\u3e)\u3csub\u3e7\u3c/sub\u3eSi\u3csub\u3e7\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e9\u3c/sub\u3e(OH)O\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eNi] of Ni nanoparticles was introduced into Ce\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eZr\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e support with following calcination and reduction stages of activation. The peculiarity of the genesis of Ni/SiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e/Ce\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eZr\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e nanomaterials and their characteristics versus deposition mode were studied by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, thermal analysis, N\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e adsorption, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and H2 temperature-programmed reduction. The two kinds of supported Ni-containing particles were observed: highly dispersed Ni forms (1‒2 nm) and large Ni-containing particles (up to 50‒100 nm in size). It was demonstrated that the textural, structural, red-ox and, consequently, catalytic properties of ex-Ni-POSS catalysts depend on the deposition mode. The increase of a portion of difficultly reduced Ni\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e species is found upon application of intermediate calcination during Ni-POSS deposition that has detrimental effect on the activity of catalyst in ATR of CH4. The Ni/SiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e/Ce\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eZr\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e catalyst prepared by one-step Ni-POSS deposition exhibits the highest H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e yield ‒ 80% at T = 800 °C.\u3c/p\u3