The　design　of　heterogeneous　catalysts　of　high　efficiency　for　complete　oxidation　of　volatile　organic　compounds　(VOCs)　is　a　challenge.　In　the　present　study,　propane　is　adopted　as　a　VOC　representative,　and　core-shell　structured　ZnCo2O4@CeO2　catalysts　with　Ce　decoration　were　synthesized　and　tested　for　propane　combustion.　Through　SEM,　STEM,　and　EDX　analyses,　the　structure　of　the　ZnCo2O4@CeO2　catalysts　was　characterized.　The　results　of　activity　evaluation　demonstrate　that　the　presence　of　Ce　can　significantly　promote　catalytic　performance,　and　the　most　suitable　Ce　content　has　been　verified.　Furthermore,　the　optimized　ZnCo2O4@CeO2　catalyst　exhibits　excellent　thermal　stability　and　strong　resistance　toward　water.　The　superior　catalytic　performance　over　the　optimized　ZnCo2O4@CeO2　catalyst　is　attributed　to　the　high　concentration　of　surface　lattice　oxygen　(O2-)　and　the　presence　of　strong　interactions　between　Ce　and　Co.　©　2019　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.