Advanced synthetic methods under mild and controlled conditions for the synthesis of nanocrystals with specific shapes and exposed surfaces are very important for understanding the surface related properties and to explore their structure-property relationship for various potential applications. Here, we report the synthesis of highly uniform CeO 2 nanorods and nanoflowers in large scale using non-hydrothermal homogeneous precipitation method with urea as a precipitating agent and CTAB as a shape directing agent. Uniform microstructures of CeO 2 samples were selectively synthesized using chloride and nitrate as the counter anions. The samples were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis-DRS, and Raman spectroscopy, and temperature programmed reduction as well as desorption methods. The results show that the physicochemical and optical properties of CeO 2 samples significantly differ with their surface microstructure and morphology. They also strongly influence the redox property, oxygen storage capacity, and surface acidity of the CeO 2 samples. The CeO 2 samples with different morphologies were tested for their soot oxidation activity. The CeO 2 sample with nanorod morphology was found to be more active due to larger CeO 2/soot interface than the CeO 2 sample with nanoflower morphology. © 2011 Elsevier Inc..