In this study, CeO2 and CeO2:Eu films were prepared by a simple Pechini sol-gel process and dip-coating method. CeO2 were successfully synthesized by hydrolysis of cerium nitrate. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to study the thermal chemical properties of sol-gel powder. Structural properties of CeO2 films annealed at different temperature ranging from 400 to 900 degrees C were investigated by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Luminescent properties of CeO2:Eu3+ films Were investigated by excitation and emission spectra. Our results show that CeO2 is a good host material for rare earth ions doping and Pechini sol-gel process is a useful method to derive high quality, macrocrack free, pure and doped CeO2 films. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.