The influence of a pre-treatment at 700 degrees C, either under a O-2/N-2 mixture or only under N-2, and followed by a hydrothermal aging at 700 degrees C under wet air, was studied for Pt/Ba/Al NSR model catalysts prepared by different methods: (i) successive impregnation of Ba and Pt, (ii) co-addition of Pt and Ba and (iii) barium precipitation followed by Pt impregnation. The catalysts were evaluated by NOx storage capacity measurements and were characterized by N-2 adsorption, XRD, CO2-TPD, H-2 chemisorption and H-2-TPR. The pre-treatment under N-2 largely improves the NOx storage performance in the whole studied temperature range (200-400 degrees C), with or without H2O and CO2 in the inlet gas. The better NOx storage properties of the catalysts treated under N-2 before aging are due to: (i) a higher NO oxidation activity (mainly linked to a higher platinum dispersion), (ii) a higher number of NOx storage sites resulting from a higher barium dispersion, and consequently to (iii) a higher Pt-Ba proximity. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.