Coral-like cerium oxide hollow nanostructures were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method using CeCl 3 ·6H 2 O, citric acid (C 6 H 8 O 7) and NH 3 ·H 2 O as main raw materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), photoluminescence and fluorescence spectrophotometery (PL), UV–visible near-infrared spectroscopy (UV–Vis), BET surface area and BJH pore volume were used to determine the crystal phase, morphology, surface chemical composition, defects, optical properties, surface area and pore volume of as-prepared material. The results showed that coral-like CeO 2 has uniform morphology, good optical properties, larger surface area and good porosity. This material was subsequently tested for enzyme mimetic activity and it was found that this material intrinsically possessed peroxidase-like activity. Image 1 • Cerium Oxide (CeO 2), an important rare earth oxide has unique f-electron configuration making it possess unique catalytic properties. • Coral-like CeO 2 hollow nanostructures were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis with different precipitants. • These nanostructures possess higher surface area and porosity, which provide more active sites for catalysis. • These mesoporous coral-like CeO 2 hollow exhibited peroxidase-like activity and could be used as artificial enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]