Abstract: The influence of the precursor of cerium oxide (cerium sulphate, cerium oxalate and cerium nitrate) on the performance of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation catalyst was investigated. The results showed that the activity and selectivity became lower than normal when cerium sulfate was added in, but became much better when cerium oxalate or cerium nitrate was added in, especially when these two were used together at a ratio of 70/30. The conversion of ethylbenzene reached above 79%, and the selectivity of styrene reached above 95%. At the same time, the performance of the catalyst was good after the 1000h lifetime test.