A simple and facile route was used in the fabrication of CeO2 nanotubes within anodic alumina membrane. A piece of membrane was first immersed into Ce(NO3)(3) aqueous solution under ambient conditions. After dried at 50 degrees C and thermally calcined at 150 degrees C and 550 degrees C, CeO2 nanotubes can be easily synthesized. The characterization with electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated that CeO2 nanotubes were composed of tiny well-crystalline CeO2 nanoparticles. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.