A one-step reverse precipitation method has been developed to prepare nano-sized ceria (CeO2 ) support with controlled physicochemical properties for low temperature water-gas shift (LT-WGS) reaction. The nano-sized CeO2 support prepared by reverse precipitation method has a high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 162.8 m(2)/g. To compare catalytic activity with that of CeO2 prepared by normal precipitation method, 5 wt% Cu was employed as the active metal, coupled to the CeO2 support. The catalytic activity of CeO2 supported Cu catalyst prepared by reverse precipitation method was evaluated for the first time in LT-WGS reaction. Notably, the CeO2 - R supported Cu catalyst, prepared by reverse precipitation method, showed higher CO conversion and turnover frequency (TOF) values than CeO2 -N supported Cu catalyst prepared by normal precipitation method. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.