Abstract. Hexagonal CePO 4 nanorods were synthesized via a simple chemical precipitation route at room-temperature without the presence of surfactants and then characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UVvis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Hexagonal CePO 4 nanorods exhibit strong ultraviolet absorption and ultraviolet luminescence, which correspond to the electronic transitions between 4f and 5d state of Ce 3+ ions.