Abstract: A comprehensive experiment was designed for the catalytic removal of CH₄ by iron cerium composite oxide based on hot issues such as carbon reduction and environmental pollutant control. By adjusting the Fe/Ce molar ratio to create defects such as oxygen vacancies, the lean CH₄ catalytic combustion performance of iron cerium composite oxides was improved. The relationship between the iron cerium composite oxides morphology, oxygen vacancy defects, reducing ability and their catalytic performance was investigated by using a series of characterization techniques. It was found that Fe₂O₃(0.83)-CeO₂ composite oxide with a high Fe/Ce molar ratio had the highest oxygen vacancy defect content, lattice oxygen mobility, and most active oxygen species; meanwhile, its catalytic performance was also the best, with a CH₄ conversion of 97.89% at 500 ℃. This experiment integrates the energy and environment hot issues, as well as the concept of optimizing material catalytic performance through manufacturing defects, into classroom teaching, which can greatly enrich the content of experimental teaching and promote the integration of science and education. In addition, this teaching model also stimulates students’ enthusiasm for exploring the unknown, exercises their scientific creative thinking, comprehensive practical skills and engineering practical abilities.