Silica-supported copper-nickel bimetallic catalyst was prepared from [Cu(H2O)(6)][Ni(dipic)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O/SiO2 precursor. The cationic-anionic complex, [Cu(H2O)(6)][Ni(dipic)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O, was prepared from the reaction of (NH4)(2)[Ni(dipic)(2)] with Cu(NO3)(2)center dot 3H(2)O in water and characterized by elemental analysis, conductometric and various spectroscopy techniques such as FT-IR. UV-vis and atomic absorption. The physicochemical characteristics of both precursor and calcined catalyst were carried out using X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis methods (TGA and DSC), FT-infrared, scanning electron microscopy and BET specific surface area. The catalyst was evaluated for water gas shift reaction. When the Cu-Ni/SiO2 catalyst was used for water gas shift reaction at 300 degrees C and atmospheric pressure, the CO conversion and CO2 selectivity were about 97.83% and 98.67%, respectively, showing higher activity and selectivity than the reference catalyst prepared by impregnation conventional method. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.