A series of Co(10%)/Zn (x%)/TiO2 catalysts (x = 0-10%) have been prepared by conventional incipient wetness techniques. TPR, BET, Raman Spectroscopy and XRD data reveal that the presence of the Zn has a minimal effect on the properties of the CO/TiO2 materials. XPS data reveal that the surface cobalt (and Ti) concentration does not decrease after Zn addition (0% Zn-1.95% surface Co; 5% Zn-3.45% surface Co; 10% Zn-2.05% surface Cc) suggesting that the Co covers the Zn ions on the TiO2 surface. At high Zn coverage, the reducibility of the Co increases slightly. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis performed on Co (10%)/Zn (x%)/TiO2 (X = 0, 5 and 10%) reveals that the Zn enhances the Co activity, but changes the selectivity to lower mass hydrocarbons. The 5% Zn catalyst shows optimal methane production relative to the other two catalysts. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.