Ce doped SrHfO3 nano-powders are synthesized by sol-gel process. The effects of pH value and calcining temperature for precursor and different Ce contents on the luminescence characteristic of specimen are studied. XRD, TG-DTA and SEM are employed to analyze the phase change and the characteristics of specimen. Results show that the powders have an uniform granularity with a dimension of about 50 nm, and good dispensability and polygonal morphology when calcined at 900 ℃ for 2 h and the sol pH value is controlled at 2.8. The maximum light band intensity appears if dopping 1.5% Ce (molar fraction). There is a broad band spectrum from 200 nm to 340 nm in the excitation spectra for the 385 nm light, peaking at 218 nm, 242 nm and 308 nm. There are three emission bands in the emission spectra excited by the 218 nm light, peaking at 380 nm, 487 nm and 526 nm. Only one emission band appears in the emission spectra excited by the 242 nm light and the 308 nm light. respectively, peaking at 393 nm and 403 nm. But The relative intensity of the first emission lights is stronger than the others due to the different transition probabilities for the electron transitions between different energy levels in SrHfO3:Ce