A series of La-M-Cu-Zn-O (M = Y, Ce, Mg, Zr) based perovskite-type catalysts are prepared by sol-gel method and characterized by XRD, BET, TPR, N2O-adsorption, XPS and TPD techniques. The results indicate that all the catalysts exhibit La2CuO4 perovskite structure. The addition of Ce, Mg and Zr lead to smaller particles, lower reduction temperature, higher Cu dispersion, larger amount of hydrogen desorption at low temperature and more amount of basic sites. However, Y has less affects on the physicochemical properties. The catalysts derived from perovskite-type precursors show high selectivity for methanol, which is correlated with the Cu alpha+ species that exists in the reduced catalysts. More exposed Cu surface area is favorable for high CO2 conversion. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.