The aim of this study was synthesis of Mg-doped porous cerium oxide powder by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction of Mg-xCeO(2)-O-2 system. Results indicated that doping Mg in the CeO2 crystal structure increased its lattice parameter slightly, and shifted the Ce-O band in the FTIR spectra from 490 to 574 cm (1). Moreover, the EDS results revealed the distribution of Mg in the CeO2 microstructure. There were a high volume fraction of interconnected macro-pores in the microstructure of cerium oxide after the synthesis process. Increase in the x-value from 0.05 to 0.25 mol decreased the mean size and volume fraction of pores from 2.4 to 1 mu m and 50 to 30 vol%, respectively. In addition, the BET surface area of porous CeO2 varied between 0.3 and 1.57 m(2)/g. Finally, it was inferred that the SHS technique can be introduced as a rapid and novel method for synthesis of Mg-doped porous CeO2 powders. (C) 2019 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.