Ce-doped iron oxide thin films have been prepared by a liquid-phase method (LPD) and tested as methanol gas sensors. Sensing tests have shown that the addition of Ce to Fe2O3 increases the response to methanol at low temperature ( 400 °C, the response of CeO2-doped Fe2O3 sensors is instead lower than that of pure Fe2O3.To find properties–sensitivity relationships, the microstructure, acid–base properties and reactivity of CeO2–Fe2O3 powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed desorption of adsorbed CO2 (TPD-CO2) and gas-phase oxidation of methanol. Ce-doped iron oxides powders have shown the formation of a FexCe1−xO2 solid solution, smaller grain size and an increase of the number of basic sites compared to pure Fe2O3. Moreover, the addition of Ce to Fe2O3 was found …