CeCuOx nanocatalysts with different Ce/Cu ratios from 10 to 40 at% Cu loading were systematically prepared by a simple and environmental -friendly method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template. The stabilized ion pairs between cationic CTAB and the mix metal salts facilitated nucleation and growth of the nanoparticles resulted in narrow size distribution. XPS results indicated the presence of Cu species (Cu2+ or metallic Cu-0) in CeCuOx catalysts. Compared with CeO2, the CeCuOx catalysts provided the lower hydrogen reduction temperature. The Ce0.8Cu0.2Ox showed the highest toluene conversion which could be due to the high surface area and well dispersion of the Cu species in the CeO2 matrix. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.