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Photocatalysis is one potential solution to the energy and environmental crisis and greatly relies on the development of the catalysts. Niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ), a typically nontoxic metal oxide, is eco-friendly and exhibits strong oxidation ability, and has attracted considerable attention from researchers. Furthermore, unique Lewis acid sites (LASs) and Brønsted acid sites (BASs) are observed on Nb 2 O 5 prepared by different methods. Herein, the recent advances in the synthesis and application of Nb 2 O 5 -based photocatalysts, including the pure Nb 2 O 5 , doped Nb 2 O 5 , metal species supported on Nb 2 O 5 , and other composited Nb 2 O 5 catalysts, are summarized. An overview is provided for the role of size and crystalline phase, unsaturated Nb sites and oxygen vacancies, LASs and BASs, dopants and surface metal species, and heterojunction structure on the Nb 2 O 5 -based catalysts in photocatalysis. Finally, the challenges are also presented, which are possibly overcome by integrating the synthetic methodology, developing novel photoelectric characterization techniques, and a profound understanding of the local structure of Nb 2 O 5 .