C-type cubic (Y 0.99¹x Tb x Ba 0.01 ) 2 O 2.99+¤ (0¯x¯0.4) catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation. The NO decomposition activities at 1173 K were higher than that of (Gd 0.7 Y 0.26 -Ba 0.04 ) 2 O 2.96 reported previously. The highest catalytic activity was obtained for (Y 0.69 Tb 0.3 Ba 0.01 ) 2 O 2.99+¤ , and 100% NO conversion into N 2 and O 2 was realized at 1173 K on this catalyst. Furthermore, the conversion ratio was maintained as high as 70.8% even in the presence of 5 vol % oxygen.The emission of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) is strictly regulated, because they are not only harmful to human beings but also responsible for photochemical smog and acid rain. The NO x species in the exhaust gas emitted at high temperatures is principally thermodynamically stable NO and the amount of NO 2 is negligible. Accordingly, research should be focused on the NO decomposition in the case of catalytic NO x remediation.For the methods of NO removal, selective catalytic reduction processes using ammonia, urea, or hydrocarbons are the mainstream procedures.1 In these processes, the decomposition efficiency is sufficient, and the reaction process is stable at high temperatures. However, separate specialized equipment is necessary to supply the reducing agents and secure control is indispensable, because ammonia is both toxic and flammable.In contrast to the above methods that utilize selective catalytic reduction, direct decomposition of NO into N 2 and O 2 (2NO ¼ N 2 + O 2 ) is an appropriate route for NO removal, because this process is simple and reductants mentioned above are not required. A number of materials have been reported as active catalysts for direct NO decomposition, such as zeolites, 2 perovskites, 35 and other mixed or complex oxides. 614 However, the activity of conventional catalysts for NO decomposition decreases in the presence of oxygen, due to strong oxygen adsorption.In contrast, it was found that C-type cubic rare earth oxides based on Gd 2 O 3 , (Gd 1¹x¹y Y x Ba y ) 2 O 3¹y (0¯x¯0.26, 0¯y0.08), can exhibit higher activity for direct NO decomposition than that of the perovskite-type catalysts in the presence of oxygen, as reported in our previous study. 14,15 There are three types of crystal structure in rare earth oxide, namely, A-(hexagonal), B-(monoclinic), and C-type (cubic), according to the ionic size of the respective rare earth element. 16 The lattice volume of the rare earth oxides increases in the order of Atype < B-type < C-type, and for this reason the C-type structure possesses the largest interstitial open space suitable for NO decomposition among the three types.It has been generally accepted that oxide vacancies in the catalyst play an important role in the direct catalytic decomposition of NO. 37 Additional introduction of oxide anion vacancies by partial substitution of the trivalent rare earth cations with divalent Ba 2+ ions will enhance the catalytic activity. In some of conventional catalysts, it has been suggested that the removal of surface oxygen can be easily achieved when...