Fe-promoted Co/AC catalysts (15CoxFe/AC) were synthesized by co-impregnation method and studied using CO hydrogenation reaction, N-2 adsorption, ex-situ/in-situ XRD, H-2-TPR, CO chemisorption and HRTEM. The results showed that the catalytic performance was improved by adding Fe into the 15Co/AC catalyst. Appropriate amount of Fe improved metal dispersion and CO uptake, thus leading to the enhancement of catalytic activity. Moreover, the increased selectivity towards C-1-C-16 alcohols was attributable to the formation of Co2C species and Co-Fe alloy promoted by moderate Fe loading in the 15Co/AC catalyst. The 15Co0.5Fe/AC catalyst showed the highest specific activity and yield of alcohols. In particular, the alcohols fraction in the liquid phase products improved up to 75% with the addition of Fe doping of 3 wt% on the 15 Co/AC catalyst. It was suggested that Co/Co2C and Co-Fe alloy were responsible for the higher alcohols synthesis via CO hydrogenation over the 15CoxFe/AC catalysts. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.