The　water-gas　shift　reaction　is　studied　using　a　series　of　Cu-Fe　composite　oxide　catalysts,　which　were　prepared　by　co-precipitation,　deposition-precipitation,　sol-gel,　solid　state　reaction　and　mechanical　mixing　method,　respectively.　Distinct　crystal　structure　and　texture　of　the　as-prepared　catalysts　were　formed,　and　their　reduction　properties　as　well　as　surface　basicities　were　modulated.　The　CO　conversion　in　the　water　gas　shift　reaction　is　found　to　be　correlation　well　with　the　Cu　components　in　the　temperature　range　of　200-350　°C,　while　the　CO　conversion　is　mainly　controlled　by　Fe3O4　sites　at　temperature　above　350　°C.　The　characterization　results　demonstrate　that　the　formation　of　CuFe2O4　is　ideal　to　obtain　well　dispersed　Cu　crystals;　the　weak　basic　sites　are　positive　to　the　WGS　reaction;　and　the　strong　interaction　between　copper　and　iron　species　can　result　in　good　Cu　dispersion.　The　catalyst　that　was　fabricated　by　the　co-precipitation　method,　possesses　the　largest　amount　of　CuFe2O4　and　weak　basic　sites,　as　well　as　highly　dispersed　Cu　crystals,　thus　showing　the　best　catalytic　activity　and　stability　for　the　WGS　reaction　in　our　cases.　©　2014　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.