The catalytic activity and durability of Rh/ZrO_2 catalyst were investigated compared with Rh/Al_2O_3 catalyst under diverse aging atmospheres, including lean, rich and lean–rich cyclic aging atmospheres, to simulate the real working conditions of three-way catalyst.Oxidation states and microstructures of rhodium species were investigated to correlate with the catalytic performance of the catalysts. The catalytic performance and durability of the Rh catalyst under diverse aging atmospheres were drastically enhanced by ZrO_2 support. ZrO_2 support was confirmed to be able to effectively inhibit rhodium sintering even under diverse aging conditions. It can also successfully keep Rh species in an active low-valence state on the surface of the catalyst. The superiority of ZrO_2 support compared to Al_2O_3 was verified by the Rh-based monolith catalyst. The catalytic activity and durability of Rh / ZrO 2 catalyst were investigated compared with Rh / Al 2 O 3 catalyst under diverse aging atmospheres, including lean, rich and lean-rich cyclic aging atmospheres, to simulate the real working conditions of three-way catalyst. Oxidation states and Microstructures of rhodium species were investigated to correlate with the catalytic performance of the catalysts. The catalytic performance and durability of the Rh catalyst under diverse aging atmospheres were drastically enhanced by ZrO 2 support. ZrO 2 support was confirmed to be able to effectively inhibit rhodium sintering even under Various aging conditions. It can also successfully keep Rh species in an active low-valence state on the surface of the catalyst. The superiority of ZrO 2 support compared to Al 2 O 3 was verified by the Rh-based monolith catalyst.