Cu-ZnO and Mn-Cu-ZnO catalysts have been prepared by electrodeposition and tested for the synthesis of higher alcohols via CO hydrogenation. The catalysts were prepared in the form of nanowires and nanotubes using a nanoporous polycarbonate membrane, which served as a template for the electrodeposition of the precursor metals from an aqueous electrolyte solution. Electrodeposition was carried out using variable amounts of Zn(NO(3))(2), Cu(NO(3))(2), Mn(NO(3))(2) and NH(4)NO(3) at different galvanostatic conditions. A fixed bed reactor was used to study the reaction of CO and H(2) to produce alcohols at 270 degrees C, 10-20 bar, H(2)/CO = 2/1, and 10,000-33,000 scc/h g(cat). In addition to methane and CO(2), methanol was the main alcohol product. The addition of manganese to the Cu-ZnO catalyst increased the selectivity toward higher alcohols by reducing methane formation; however, CO(2) selectivity remained high. Maximum ethanol selectivity was 5.5%, measured as carbon efficiency. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.