Crystalline cerium(IV) oxide nanoparticles with a cubic fluorite structure could be synthesized from cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate solutions with a relatively high concentration of cerium(IV) (such as 0.5 mol/dm(3)) via thermal hydrolysis at 150 degrees-240 degrees C. The effects of the treatment temperature, the salt concentration, and the addition of sulfate ions on the crystallite size and morphology of the synthesized particles were investigated. The crystalline nanoparticles had a tendency to agglomerate and form spherical secondary particles with the addition of either ammonium sulfate or sulfuric acid. The existence of sulfate ions in the acidified solution was confirmed to be a factor of consequence for spherical agglomeration of the nanoparticles.