Three-dimensional　Ce-doped　ZnO　was　synthesized　via　coprecipitation　and　roasting　processes.　The　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　specific　surface　area　(Brunauer-Emmett-Teller　method),　and　photoluminescence　spectra.　Also,　the　photocatalytic　activities　of　ZnO　and　Ce-doped　ZnO　were　investigated　in　ultraviolet　light　for　degradation　of　methylene　blue　solution.　The　results　indicated　that　the　concentration　of　NaOH　and　the　doping　amount　of　Ce　showed　great　influence　on　morphology,　structures,　and　properties　of　Ce-doped　ZnO.　When　the　(Ce3++Zn2+)/OH-　was　1:2.5　and　the　concentration　of　Ce　was　2　mol%,　the　morphology　of　the　Ce-doped　ZnO　was　microspheres　with　superstructures　assembled　by　large　amounts　of　interleaving　nanosheets.　The　morphology　transformed　from　microspheres　with　superstructures　to　amorphous　by　changing　the　ratio　of　(Ce3++Zn2+)/OH-　from　1:2　to　1:3.　The　photoluminescence　spectra　indicated　that　the　recombination　rate　of　photogenerated　electron-hole　pairs　of　Ce-doped　ZnO　was　suppressed.　The　prepared　Ce-doped　ZnO　showed　much　enhanced　photocatalytic　property　than　pure　ZnO.　When　the　doping　concentration　of　Ce　was　2　mol%,　the　Ce-doped　ZnO　photocatalysts　showed　best　photocatalytic　activity　with　99.10%　degradation　of　methylene　blue　solution　after　2　h.　©　IMechE　2014.