Catalytic conversion of syngas to higher alcohols over mesoporous perovskite catalysts

•Meso-PTOs were synthesized with different metal compositions and citric acid amounts.•This paper firstly reported CoCu- and FeCu-based Meso-PTO catalysts for higher alcohol synthesis from syngas.•Meso-PTOs showed high catalytic performance for the production of higher alcohols and C2+ oxygenates compared with bulk-PTOs.•Meso-FeCu-CA2 suppressed the methanation, and an enhanced the selectivities of C3–4 alcohols and C2+ oxygenates.•Reaction temperature is one of the key parameters having the greatest effect on the CO conversion rate.