The　development　of　high　efficient　and　inexpensive　photocatalyst　for　oxidation　of　indoor　gaseous　benzene　is　a　big　challenge.　In　this　paper,　a　simple　compound　containing　only　one　metal　element　named　antimony　oxide　hydrate　(Sb2O5·3H2O)　is　prepared　by　a　facile　hydrolysis–oxidation　method.　The　photocatalytic　activity　for　oxidation　of　benzene　over　Sb2O5·3H2O　is　investigated　for　the　first　time.　The　conversion　ratio　and　mineralization　of　benzene　are　35.0%　and　55%　over　Sb2O5·3H2O,　which　are　3.5　and　5.5　times　higher　than　that　of　P25.　Reactive　oxygen　species,　including　O2[rad]−　and　[rad]OH,　are　detected　by　ESR　experiments.　The　large　amount　of　O2[rad]−　and　long　lived　[rad]OH　over　antimony　oxide　hydrate　is　the　main　reason　for　its　good　photocatalytic　activity,　and　it　is　also　proved　that　both　O2[rad]−　and　[rad]OH　are　mainly　origin　from　oxygen　reduction.　We　believe　that　this　energy　saving,　inexpensive　and　high　efficient　photocatalyst　has　potential　industrial　application　value.　©　2017　Elsevier　B.V.