Neutron diffraction was used to determine structural characteristics of a series of CuFe2-xCrxO4 (x = 0 divided by 2) spinels. The range of Fe/Cr ratios ensuring the occurrence of cubic and tetragonal spinel modifications was refined. The distribution of cations between octa- and tetrahedral positions was estimated. A correlation between distribution of the catalytically active Cu2+ cations in the spinel structure and activation energy of the low-temperature water gas shift reaction was revealed. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.