Local coordination structure around Yttrium ions in CeO2-Y2O3 binary and [(CeO2)(x)ZrO2)(1-x)](0.8)(YO1.5)(0.2) (x = 0.0 similar to 1.0) ternary system has been investigated by Y-89 MAS-NMR. NMR spectra are found to be consisted of multiple peaks that can be assigned to 6-, 7-and 8-oxygen coordinated Yttrium ions. Compositional dependence of the spectrum was observed and compared with the previous results for ZrO2-Y2O3 binary system. The present investigation suggested the degree of localization of the oxygen vacancy around the cation is in the order of Zr4+ > Y3+ > Ce4+. The degree of the oxygen vacancy preference for each cation was quantitatively determined for CeO2-ZrO2-Y2O3 ternary system the first time. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.