A new scheme for designing and preparing the catalyst for higher alcohol synthesis was presented in this work According to the scheme, a series of zirconia-supported LaCo1 - xCuxO3 catalysts were prepared by impregnating ZrO2 with a mixed solution composed of ions of copper, cobalt and lanthanum and citric acid. The catalysts were characterized by using XRD, TEM, BET, H-2-TPR and XPS techniques. After reduction, the catalyst precursor favored to form nanoparticles of Co-Cu alloy highly dispersed on ZrO2 and modified with La2O3. The metal nanoparticles of Cu-Co alloy together with ZrO2 modified with La2O3 contributed to the excellent selectivity of higher alcohols as well as the very good stability. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.