Nanoscale Fe-based perovskites with nominal formula LaFe1-x(Cu,Pd)xO(3) were generated by reactive grinding and characterized by N-2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction by hydrogen (H-2-TPR), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of 02, NO, and CO, temperature-programmed surface reduction (TPSR) of NO under CO/He flow, and activity test toward NO + CO reaction. The catalytic performance of LaFeO3 can be considerably improved via 20% Cu substitution, leading to a 74% N-2 yield and 72% CO conversion at 350 degrees C, under an atmosphere of 3000 ppm NO and 3000 ppm CO in helium at a space velocity of 50,000 h(-1). This improvement was ascribed to the facility in generation of anion vacancies after Cu incorporation, which plays a crucial role on NO adsorption and dissociation. In addition, the enhanced reducibility of LaFe0.8Cu0.2O3 after Cu substitution results in the promotion of CO oxidation and anion vacancy regeneration, providing another clue for this improvement. N2O decomposition (31% N-2 yield at 500 degrees C) is much easier than NO decomposition (below 5% at T < 500 degrees C) over LaFe0.8Cu0.2O3. Conversion of both NO and N2O is significantly improved by the presence of the reducing agent. A mechanism was proposed with dissociation of chemisorbed NO, forming N-2 and/or N2O, and an oxidized perovskite surface, which was continuously reduced by CO with the generation of CO2. Great performance at low temperature was found over LaFe0.97Pd0.03O3 with a 96% NO conversion and 86% CO conversion at 300 degrees C, corresponding to the outstanding redox proper-ties of this catalyst. O-2 has a strongly detrimental effect, leading to the consumption of the reducing agent by oxidation. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.