The conditions and the process parameters of the plasma-chemical synthesis and/or regeneration of catalysts for low-temperature steam conversion of CO under the conditions of electric-arc low-temperature plasma have been investigated, as depending on the plasma-chemical process parameters and the plasma-chemical reactors (PCR) type (with "cold walls" (CW) or "warm walls" (WW)), samples that have the particle sizes, 10-60 nm, in some cases, up to 200 nm; faulty crystal lattice following properties were obtained: specific surface, up to 56 m(2)/g; structure; phases of ZnO, CuO, Cu2O and CuAl2O4. The temperature from 2000 to 3800 K was experimentally provided as the optimal temperature range in the PCR for synthesis of samples with maximum dispersity, and catalytic activity. A complex physicochemical analysis of the plasma-chemically synthesised and/or regenerated sample by the following methods was performed: X-ray diffraction patterns, electron-microscope, chemical and other analyses. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.