Using　a　mixture　of　NO　+　O2　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　°C.　During　the　activity　tests,　the　only　carbon-containing　products　were　DME　and　CO2.　The　DME　productivity　(μmol　gcat−1　h−1)　was　comparable　to　oxygenate　productivities　reported　in　the　literature　for　strong　oxidants　(N2O,　H2O2,　O3).　The　NO　+　O2　mixture　formed　NO2,　which　acted　as　the　oxygen　atom　carrier　for　the　ultimate　oxidant　O2.　During　the　methane　partial　oxidation　reaction,　NO　and　NO2　were　not　reduced　to　N2.　In　situ　FTIR　showed　the　formation　of　surface　nitrate　species,　which　are　considered　to　be　key　intermediate　species　for　the　selective　oxidation.　©　2020　Wiley-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim