Temperature programmed desorption, infrared spectroscopy, and (15)N solid state NMR spectroscopy were used to characterize the nature of the nitrate species formed on Al(2)O(3) and BaO/Al(2)O(3) NO(x) storage/reduction materials. Two distinctly different nitrate species were found: surface nitrates that are associated with a monolayer BaO on the alumina support, and a bulk-like nitrate that forms on this thin BaO layer. The surface nitrates desorb as NO(2) at lower temperatures than do the bulk-like nitrates, which decompose as NO+O(2) at higher temperatures. The amount of NO(x) stored in the monolayer nitrate is proportional to the surface area of the catalyst, while that in the bulk nitrate increases with BaO coverage.