Using　a　mixture　of　NO　+　O(2)as　the　oxidant　enabled　the　direct　selective　oxidation　of　methane　to　dimethyl　ether　(DME)　over　Pt/Y2O3.　The　reaction　was　carried　out　in　a　fixed　bed　reactor　at　0.1　MPa　over　a　temperature　range　of　275-375　degrees　C.　During　the　activity　tests,　the　only　carbon-containing　products　were　DME　and　CO2.　The　DME　productivity　(mu　mol　g(cat)(-1)　h(-1))　was　comparable　to　oxygenate　productivities　reported　in　the　literature　for　strong　oxidants　(N2O,　H2O2,　O-3).　The　NO　+　O(2)mixture　formed　NO2,　which　acted　as　the　oxygen　atom　carrier　for　the　ultimate　oxidant　O-2.　During　the　methane　partial　oxidation　reaction,　NO　and　NO(2)were　not　reduced　to　N-2.　In　situ　FTIR　showed　the　formation　of　surface　nitrate　species,　which　are　considered　to　be　key　intermediate　species　for　the　selective　oxidation.