The solid structures and thermostabilities of Cu-Fe-O and Cu-Fe-Ce-O supported on alumina were studied by XRD, ESR, Mossbauer and TPR techniques. The studies indicate that there are Fe2CuO4, CuO and α-Fe2O3 phases in Cu-Fe-O with the granula of less than 13 nm. With the catalyst pretreatment temperature rising, the crystallite of Fe2CuO4 in the catalysts grows up and that of CuO disappears gradually. The presence of Ce leads to the increase of Cu2+ concentration, inhibits the crystal growth of CuO and Fe2CuO4 in the catalyst except that of Fe2O3, and eliminates the difference for reductive reaction of oxygen in Fe-O and Cu-O. At 800 ℃, the crystal growth of Fe2O3 in Cu-Fe-Ce-O is slower than that in Cu-Fe-O, i.e., CeO2 in Cu-Fe-Ce-O inhibits the growth of Fe2O3 phase effectively, and enhances the thermostability of catalysts so as to avoid the sintering of active elements in catalysts. CeO2 promotes the reducibility of catalysts at lower temperature.