Mn-x-Sn-y-Ce1-x-yO2 +/-mu (denoted Mn-Sn-Ce-O) catalysts prepared through co-precipitation were used for NOx storage under lean conditions at a low temperature (100 degrees C). The NOx storage capacity (NSC) of the Mn-Sn-O dramatically increased after incorporating Ce. The catalyst, which has a 4:5:1 molar ratio of Mn:Sn:Ce (denoted Mn0.4Sn0.5Ce0.1), exhibited a breakthrough time of 16 min and a NSC of 565.9 mu mol g(-1) at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 48,000 mL h(-1) g(-1). Combining the NO adsorption/desorption results with XPS and H-2-TPR, results revealed that the NO oxidation ability of Mn-Sn-Ce-O had improved dramatically due to the Sn-Ce interactions and the surface defect oxygen species. Furthermore, the NO-TPD, NO2-TPD and in situ DRIFTS data indicated that incorporate Ce into the Mn-Sn-O induced a synergistic Sn-Ce effect during NOx storage, thereby producing more NO2 adsorption sites on the surface. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.