In this study, surface adsorption capabilities and corresponding catalytic activities of perovskite-type La(0.8)St(0.2)(Mn1-xCox)O-3 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) oxides with controlled surface areas of 3-4 m(2) g(-1) were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to examine the surface adsorption property of perovskite oxides. The catalytic activity of La0.8Sr0.2(Mn1-xCox)O-3 on methane conversion was investigated via gas chromatography (GC) in the temperature range of 400-700 degrees C under a fixed methane-to-oxygen ratio (CH4/O-2) of 1.5. According to our investigation, the surface adsorption characteristics were improved with the increase of cobalt content in the B-site of La0.8Sr0.2(Mn1-xCox)O-3. Such improvements consequently enhanced the overall conversion efficiency of methane. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.