Tungsten as an interface agent leading to highly active and stable copper-ceria water gas shift catalyst

► System prepared from an initial ternary oxide with fluorite structure. ► High activity and stability at temperatures above 300 C and GHSV of 42,000 h−1. ► In situ XRD-XAS-Vibrational experiments show that presence of a W-Cu mixed oxide phase is key to enhance catalytic properties.