The synthesis of mesoporous ceria (CeO2) without a template was studied in detail using NaOH and NH4OH solution. We first synthesized nanosized mesoporous CeO2 without a template by the direct hydrothermal synthesis method with NaOH. By using NaOH, mesoporous CeO2 could be obtained without a template through the oxidation of Ce3+ ions, the hydrolysis of Ce4+ ions, polymerization and precipitation. Under appropriate synthesis conditions, the obtained mesoporous CeO2 had a high surface area, a narrow pore size distribution and an ordered structure with uniform mesopores. The surface area of the mesoporous CeO2 increased with increasing synthesis temperature. The NaOH concentration induced different behavior on the mesoporous CeO2 surface with and without a template. The mesoporous CeO2 had nanoarrays with uniform mesopores (intercrystalline voids). However, when NH4OH solution was used, the CeO2 had nanoarrays with a hierarchical pore network. The mesoporous CeO2 obtained without template had relatively high thermal stability that increased with increasing synthesis temperature. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved..