The invention discloses manganese-cerium composite oxide, which is prepared in one step through the oxidation reduction-precipitation process among Mn<VII>, Mn<II> and Ce<III> ions, wherein components, namely MnO2 and CeO2 of the manganese-cerium composite oxide have high dispersion on a near molecular scale, the mol ratio of Mn to Ce is randomly adjusted, and the composite oxide has good oxidation reduction and oxygen affinity. As a catalyst carrier of reactions of formaldehyde oxidation at room temperature and low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide, the use of the composite oxide can ensure that a catalyst has higher activity, and the stability of the composite oxide is more superior to those of other carriers.