Surface combustion synthesis was applied as a coating technique to prepare the fiberglass systems with supported oxide layer. Effect of the dopant's nature (Co3O4, Mn3O4) on catalytic activity of the supported copper-ceria samples was studied. Catalyst samples were characterized by various physicochemical methods. Active components exist on surface of support in three different states: large agglomerates; small particles and thin oxide film. The additive is found to be in highly disperse state. Catalytic activity of modified CuO-CeO2 samples has been tested in CO oxidation. It was established that the catalytic performance is to be directly determined by the nature of dopant and the way it interacts with CuO phase. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.