A lean NOx trap for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions, such as the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO), and the trapping and reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) is disclosed. Nitrogen oxide storage catalysts can comprise a layer on a substrate including ceria-alumina particles having a ceria phase present in a weight percent of the composite in the range of about 20% to about 80% on an oxide basis, an alkaline earth metal component supported on the ceria-alumina particles, wherein the CeO2 is present in the form of crystallites that are hydrothermally stable and have an average crystallite size less than 130 Å after aging at 950° C. for 5 hours in 2% O2 and 10% steam in N2.