A　series　of　Mg-Al-Ce　mixed　oxides　with　(nMg2+)/(nCe3+　+　nAl3+)　=　5　and　nCe3+/(nCe3+　+　nAl3+)　=　0　∼　7%　were　synthesized　by　co-precipitation　method　based　on　a　hydrotalcite　route　and　used　as　support　to　prepare　Co-Mo　sulfur-resistant　water-gas　shift　(WGS)　catalysts.　The　supports　and　catalysts　were　characterized　by　XRD,　ICP,　N2-physisorption,　CO2-TPD,　H2-TPR,　H2S-TPS,　TEM,　and　CO-IR.　It　is　found　that　the　catalytic　performance　and　physicochemical　property　of　the　Co-Mo/Mg(Al)O　catalyst　are　significantly　influenced　by　the　Ce　modification.　The　addition　of　Ce　effectively　enhances　the　WGS　activity　and　the　highest　activity　is　obtained　on　the　Co-Mo/Mg(Al)O-CeO2　(5%)　catalyst,　where　the　activity　at　623　K　increases　about　2.5　times.　The　results　of　H2S-TPS　investigation　show　that　in　the　presence　of　Ce,　the　H2S　consumption　peak　shifts　to　lower　temperatures　and　there　is　decrease　of　Mo　sulfidation　activation　energy.　Furthermore,　HRTEM　analysis　shows　that　the　addition　of　Ce　(5%)　results　in　decrease　of　MoS2　slab　length　and　stacking　number,　and　those　of　CO-IR　characterization　indicate　increased　exposure　of　surface　MoS2　sites.　It　is　suggested　that　the　addition　of　Ce　promotes　the　formation　of　MoS2　slabs　that　are　smaller　in　size,　leading　to　higher　exposure　of　surface　active　sites　and　hence　higher　activity.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.