Au/ZrO2　catalysts　with　a　nominal　gold　loading　of　1.0　were　prepared　by　a　deposition-precipitation　method　employing　a　series　of　ZrO　2　samples　synthesized　by　a　convenient　hydrothermal　route　as　supports.　These　catalysts　were　evaluated　for　low-temperature　water-gas　shift　reaction　under　a　model　reformed　methanol　gas　atmosphere.　The　effect　of　the　hydrothermal　synthesis　temperature　of　zirconia　on　the　catalytic　activity　of　Au/ZrO　2　was　investigated.　The　optimal　hydrothermal　synthesis　temperature　of　ZrO2　was　150　°C.　The　corresponding　catalyst　offers　a　CO　conversion　of　87　at　a　reaction　temperature　of　240°C,　which　is　significantly　higher　than　that　of　the　previously　reported　Au/Fe2O3,　Au/CeO2,　and　Au/CeZrO4　catalysts.　The　Au/ZrO2　catalysts　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　atomic　absorption　spectrometry,　N2-physisorption,　and　scanning　electron　microscopy.　The　results　indicate　that　the　catalytic　performance　of　the　Au/ZrO2　catalysts　is　mainly　influenced　by　the　morphology　and　pore　structure　of　the　ZrO2　that　was　hydrothermally　synthesized　at　different　temperatures.　A　uniform　nanodisk　morphology　and　increase　in　the　pore　volume　and　pore　diameter　of　the　ZrO2　particles　lead　to　a　higher　catalytic　activity　of　the　Au/ZrO2　catalyst.　©　2012　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　the　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.