Thin films of MnO2 and CeO2 were deposited on glass substrates directly from aqueous solutions in a temperature range from 313 to 333 K by a modified chemical bath deposition technique. The principle of the film deposition was based on the oxidation of Mn2+ and Ce3+ ions in homogeneous solutions and subsequent heterogeneous nucleation of MnO2 and CeO2 on the substrates. We have named this method as "oxidative-soak-coating" method. The film thicknesses after a 24-hour deposition were 1 mum and 60 nm, respectively. Thin films consisting of Mn3O4 and MnOOH were also deposited by changing the pH of the starting solutions for the deposition of MnO2. The effects of the composition of the starting solution, deposition temperature, and the compatibility of the substrates to the film substances were investigated. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.