A　series　of　CuO/CeO2　catalysts　doping　with　Nb2O5　were　fabricated　by　co-precipitation　method.　It　is　found　that　the　introduction　of　Nb5+　will　result　in　the　substitution　of　Ce4+　with　Nb5+,　thus　creating　mobile　electronic　carriers　in　the　as-prepared　catalysts.　The　characterization　results　correlating　with　the　catalytic　activity　evaluation　disclose　that　the　catalyst　added　with　1　wt.　%　Nb2O5　shows　the　most　mobile　electronic　carries,　certain　amount　of　weak,　medium　basic　sites　and　enhanced　reducibility　and　chemical　adsorption　of　CO,　thus　the　best　catalytic　activity　for　water　gas　shift　reaction.　However,　excessive　Nb2O5　addition　prevents　the　incorporation　of　Cu2+　into　CeO2　lattice　and　partially　covers　the　surface　of　CuO　and　CeO2,　resulting　in　weaken　their　reducibility　and　interaction　between　them,　thus　leading　to　inferior　catalytic　performance.　Copyright　(C)　2013,　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.