Cerium phosphate nanofibers were synthesized by thermal treatment with the help of the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as structure-director. Cerium phosphate materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD)

scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and N2 sorption. The results showed that the synthesized cerium phosphate material was mix-crystal of hexagonal and monazite. Cerium phosphate with cabbage-leaf-like morphology was composed of nano-fibers with the width of 5 nm and the length of several of hundreds to thousands nanometer. The proposed formation mechanism was the cooperative self-assembly formation-controlled through oriented attachment growth mechanism. Thus

cerium phosphate materials as catalysts were applied for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane and exhibited significant catalytic performance and stability.