CeO(2) and Cu/CeO(2) catalysts were prepared using electrospinning technique for methane oxidation in air. Cerium nitrate or cerium acetylacetonate and different amounts of copper acetate were used as precursors to obtain nanostructured fibers after heat treatment. The influence of the amount of copper in ceria fibers and its influence on the catalysts characteristics and catalytic activity were determined. The catalysts were characterized by means of SEM, SSA and TPR techniques for the methane oxidation using synthetic air, following the consumption of C(x)H(y) and O(2) and the production of NO/NO(x), CO(2), CO and residual C(x)H(y). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.