Au-CeO2/SiO2 was prepared via adsorbed-layer reactor technique combined with alcohol- thermal treatment. The catalytic performance in complete oxidation of benzene was investigated. TEM, Raman characterization showed that Au particles grew up obviously during alcohol- thermal process, while CeO2 particles maintained 4 nm in diameter. The content of oxygen vacancies and adsorbed oxygen species on catalysts surface increased apparently. Alcohol- thermally treated Au-CeO2/SiO2 and CeO2/SiO2 showed similar change in catalytic performance, and were much superior to calcined CeO2/SiO2. Of alcohol-thermally treated and calcined CeO2/SiO2, initial temperatures of the reaction were 80 degrees C and 150 degrees C, respectively. The benzene conversions reached 85% and 40% at 300 degrees C. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.