Ce doped ZnO (Ce-ZnO) nano materials with different Ce molar content were prepared via chemical precipitation" method. The morphology of Ce-ZnO was rod like and the size was decreased with the increase of doping amount, and the size of Ce-ZnO was 180 nm in length and 40 nm in diameter when the doping amount is 2.5%. All the samples were treated on cotton fabric, the laden fabric has excellent performance on hydrophobicity, UV resistance and antibacterial activity. The contact angle of fabric loaded with ZnO was 103, and fabric with 2.5% Ce-ZnO was 148. The fabric loaded with Ce-ZnO has superior performance of UV resistance. With the increase of doping amount, the antibacterial rates were promoted and then reduced, the antibacterial rates against S. aureus and C albicans of fabric with 2.5% CeZnO were promoted to 83% and 85%, however, the antibacterial activity against E. coil was reduced to 78%. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.