The surface of alkali (K, Cs) promoted Co-MoS₂/clay catalysts were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The surface enrichment of K and Cs on the surface of catalysts increased with syngas exposure. XPS suggests that syngas treatment slightly shifted the K 2p lines of K-promoted catalyst (K 2p_3/2=292.9 and 2p_1/2=295.7eV) to a higher binding energy (BE) (K 2p_3/2=293.2 and 2p_1/2=296eV), and for Cs-promoted catalyst, the Cs 3d_5/2 (724.6eV) and Cs 3d_3/2 (738.7eV) were shifted slightly to a higher binding energy (0.2eV). Co₉S₈ was formed during syngas exposure of Cs-promoted catalyst, but it was not formed during syngas exposure of the K-promoted catalyst. XPS, SEM and EDS analysis indicated that potassium and cesium distributions on the fresh catalysts were not uniform when a mortar and pestle was used to mix the active chemicals. The formation of Co₉S₈ on the surface of Cs-promoted Co-MoS₂/clay catalyst may result in a reduction of Co-Mo-S surface area and its activity toward alcohol production. The highest ethanol production rate (129g/kg_cath⁻¹) was achieved for K-promoted Co-MoS₂/clay catalyst at 300°C and 2000psig for gas hour space velocity (GHSV=2000h⁻¹). The total alcohol synthesis (AS) production rate increased upon increasing the reaction temperature, however, the total alcohol selectivity was decreased.