According to X-ray crystallography, the Ce(III) ions are seven-coordinate, a motif typical for other trivalent lanthanide oxides.

These applications exploit the facility of the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) redox couple.

Such technologies, which tend to use vanadium oxide-based catalysts rather than ceria, are associated with power plants, foundaries, cement factories and other energy-intensive facilities.

[5] Cerium oxide finds use as a fuel additive to diesel fuels,[clarification needed] which results in increased fuel efficiency and decreased hydrocarbon derived particulate matter emissions,[6] however the health effects of the cerium oxide bearing engine exhaust is a point of study and dispute.

Samples produced in this way are only slowly air-oxidized back to the dioxide at room temperature.