MoS2, Co-MoS2 and K2CO3/CO-MoS2 catalysts have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD analysis indicates that Co-MoS2 is a primary phase in K2CO3/CO-MoS2 catalyst and the diffraction lines of Co-MoS2 are not changed by the addition of K2CO3. Co9S8 phase is not present at Co/Mo mole ratio of 0.5 using a co-precipitation method for preparation of cobalt-molybdenum catalyst. The binding energies (BEs) of chemical species present on the surface of the catalysts are compared through the course of catalyst preparation. K2CO3/Co-MoS2 catalyst has been investigated as a function of dispersion of K on the surface and exposure to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The distribution of potassium on the surface of the K-promoted catalyst is not uniform.