In the present research a high temperature shift Fe-Cr nanocatalyst was fabricated via thermolysis of an ion-pair complex precursor, [Fe(H2O)(6)][Cr(C2O4)(3)]center dot 4H(2)O. This catalyst has higher specific surface area and smaller crystallite size compared to a reference catalyst prepared by precipitation-impregnation conventional method. The water gas shift activity of the prepared catalyst was comparable and even higher than that of a commercial catalyst in temperatures more than 400 degrees C and also, it showed better activity compared to that of the reference sample in all studied temperature range (350-500 degrees C). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.