Dopants　enhance　the　catalytic　properties　of　ceria.　However,　conventional　techniques　for　synthesizing　doped　ceria　have　limitations　in　terms　of　structural　homogeneity,　surface　area,　and　catalytic　activity　of　the　resulting　oxide.　Use　of　toxic　and　corrosive　chemicals　presents　further　challenges.　The　sol-gel　method　described　in　this　work　provides　a　facile　approach　for　incorporating　high　concentrations　of　dopants　in　a　uniform,　high　surface　area　structure,　yielding　excellent　catalytic　activity.　Addition　of　polyvinylpyrrolidone　(PVP)　complexing　agent　prevents　the　segregation　of　cerium　and　dopant　atoms　during　synthesis.　Surface　areas　up　to　179　m2/g　are　achieved,　which　represents　a　substantial　improvement　over　doped　ceria　produced　through　coprecipitation,　solution　combustion,　or　melt-synthesis　methods.　The　resulting　powders　exhibit　dramatically　improved　CO　oxidation　activity　(T90　=　132　°C　for　3.2　wt%　Cu-CeO2　compared　to　274　°C　for　a　2　wt%　Pt-Al2O3　reference　catalyst).　First　principles　calculations　suggest　a　Mars　Van　Krevelen　mechanism,　which　is　facilitated　by　dopants　causing　oxygen　vacancies.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.