Three　Cu/ZrO2　catalysts　were　synthesized　utilizing　co-precipitation　(CP),　deposition-precipitation　(DP)　and　deposition-hydrothermal　(DH)　methods,　respectively.　The　microstructure　and　texture　of　those　catalysts　are　characterized　by　means　of　XRD,　SEM,　N2-physisorption,　Raman　and　EPR　characterizations.　It　is　demonstrated　that　different　morphologies　and　textures　of　ZrO2　are　formed,　and　the　micro-　and　crystal　structure　of　Cu　nanoparticles　as　well　as　the　concentration　of　oxygen　vacancies　of　ZrO　2　are　distinguish　from　each　other.　In　addition,　H2-TPR　technique　is　employed　to　investigate　the　reducibility　properties　of　the　as-synthesized　Cu/ZrO2　catalysts.　It　is　found　that　the　synergy　interaction　between　Cu-ZrO2　obtained　by　the　DH　method　is　the　strongest,　owning　to　the　possession　of　the　largest　amount　of　oxygen　vacancies.　Furthermore,　their　catalytic　activities　with　respect　to　the　water　gas　shift　reaction　are　also　performed,　and　the　Cu/ZrO2-DH　shows　high　catalytic　activity,　the　reasons　are　the　well　dispersion　and　small　crystallite　size　of　Cu,　the　largest　amount　of　oxygen　vacancies,　as　well　as　the　strongest　interaction　between　Cu-ZrO2.　Copyright　©　2013,　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.