The nmCeO(2) and Ce(0.8)M(0.2)O(2) (M = Sm, Zr, V) nanoparticles were prepared by the method of microwave-assisted heating decomposition. Their catalytic performances for diesel soot oxidation were investigated with temperature-programmed oxidation reaction (TPO). Spectroscopic techniques (XRD, Raman, UV-Vis DRS and FT-IR) were utilized to characterize the structures of nmCeO(2) and Ce(0.8)M(0.2)O(2) catalysts. The results show that the structures of the catalysts depend on the different doped ions. Ce(0.8)Sm(0.2)O(2) and Ce(0.8)Zr(0.2)O(2) still preserved a face-centered cubic fluorite structure of CeO(2). However, CeVO(4) crystallite was formed as V doping (Ce(0.8)V(0.2)O(2)). Nanometer CeO(2), Ce(0.8)Sm(0.2)O(2) and Ce(0.8)Zr(0.2)O(2) exhibited higher catalytic activity than conventional CeO(2) and Ce(0.8)V(0.2)O(2) for soot combustion due to the nanometer effect and the good contact between the catalyst and soot. For soot oxidation, nmCeO(2) is mainly active components. However, the doping of Sm or Zr could remarkably improve the thermal stability of nmCeO(2), and the doping of Sm or V could enhance the ability to resist SO(2) poison of catalysts. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.