The　water-gas　shift　reaction　was　used　to　evaluate　a　series　of　La　2O3　modified　CuO/CeO2　catalysts　that　were　prepared　by　a　parallel　co-precipitation　method.　The　catalytic　activity　and　thermal　stability　improved　significantly　upon　the　introduction　of　La　2O3,　and　CuO/CeO2-La2O3　(2　wt)　gave　the　highest　activity　and　had　the　best　thermal　stability.　The　microstructure　of　the　as-prepared　CuO/CeO2-La2O　3　catalysts　and/or　the　CeO2-La2O3　supports　was　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　N2　physisorption,　Raman　spectroscopy,　and　temperature-programmed　reduction.　The　results　indicate　that　larger　specific　surface　areas　and　smaller　crystal　sizes　of　CuO　and　CeO　2　result　in　improved　catalytic　performance　for　the　as-prepared　catalysts.　Moreover,　the　incorporation　of　La3+　into　the　ceria　lattice　promotes　the　generation　of　oxygen　vacancies　leading　to　a　higher　number　of　moderate　copper　oxides　that　interact　with　surface　oxygen　vacancies　on　the　surface　of　the　ceria.　This　enhances　the　activity　and　thermal　stability　of　the　CuO/CeO2　catalyst.　©　2012　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　the　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.