Density functional theory calculations (DFT + U) were performed on a low doping Mn-Ce composite oxide prepared from experimental data, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). We considered a 12.5% Mn-doped CeO2 solid solution with fluorite-type structure, where Mn replaces Ce4+ leading to an oxygen-deficient bulk structure. Then, we modeled the adsorption of phenol on the bare Ce0.875Mn0.125O1.9375(1 1 1) surface. We also studied the effect of water adsorption and dissociation on phenol adsorption on this surface, and compared the predictions of DFT + U calculations with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) measurements. The experimental results allowed us to both build a realistic model of the low doping Mn-Ce composite oxide and support the prediction that phenol is adsorbed as a phenoxy group with a tilt angle of about 70 with respect to the surface. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.