A series of highly oriented CrOx/Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple seed-mediated growth approach. The relationship between the catalytic oxidation capacity and morphology was evaluated by the oxidative denitrification (2NO + O-2 -> 2NO(2)). The results indicate that the addition of different seed helps to form the dendritic shape of CrOx/Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 catalysts. Among them, CCZ4-C3N4 (the g-C3N4 seed-mediated approach of CrOx/Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 catalysts) exhibited the best catalytic activity for the oxidation of NO, which reached 57.47% at 300 degrees C. The g-C3N4 seed makes Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 growing along the (1 1 1) face of itself, which can benefit for the surface enriched with Ce and Cr exposed. The exposed enriched surface structure promotes the generation of Ce3+ and Cr6+ on the surface, which enhances the NO oxidation capacity. The good dispersion of Cr species on the surface also leads to the high catalytic performance. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.