a b s t r a c tWe report a simple one-pot method to prepare organically functionalized CeO 2 nanoparticles by controlled chemical precipitation. The particles were nucleated by mixing aqueous solutions of Ce(NO 3 ) 3 ·6H 2 O and ammonia at room temperature. Different small organic molecules were chosen as capping agents and injected into the reaction medium at the beginning of the synthesis: 3-(mercaptopropyl) trimethoxy silane (MPS), hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), 3-mercapto propionic acid (3-MPA), and thioglycolic acid (TGA). The resulting nanocrystals were quasi-spherical and had a narrow mean size distribution with an average size smaller than 10 nm. Dynamic nuclear polarization enhanced NMR (DNP-NMR) and FTIR measurements suggested a chemical grafting of the surfactant and a homogeneous surface modification. The colloidal stabilities were characterized by dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements. The stabilization by aliphatic groups was tested with a frequently used hydrophobic monomer, methyl methacrylate. According to the results, CTAB is the most effective of the used stabilizing surfactant. The mechanism of formation of the organophilic CeO 2 nanoparticles is discussed.