Lattice defects, for example oxygen vacancies in cerium oxide (CeO2), usually play a vital role in determining physical and chemical properties, including catalytic performance and resistance switching behaviour. Here, tin (Sn) was introduced as a dopant in one dimensional CeO2 nanostructures to investigate oxygen vacancy modulation and achieve improved catalytic properties and a tunable electrical performance. Our findings revealed that the Sn-doped CeO2 nanorods maintained their morphology while the aspect ratio decreased gradually with increasing Sn content. The variation in oxygen vacancy concentration with Sn doping was confirmed by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies and enhanced thermal catalytic and photo-catalytic performances were attained for the Sn-doped CeO2 nanorods. The variation in oxygen vacancy concentration with Sn doping was also found to influence its electrical properties. Hysteresis loops expressing resistance switching behaviour were observed in Sn-doped CeO2-delta nanorods. The results detailed in this study can help to rationally design nanostructures with the potential to provide desirable multi-functionalities. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.