A　series　of　CuO/CeO2　catalysts　doping　with　Nb2O　5　were　fabricated　by　co-precipitation　method.　It　is　found　that　the　introduction　of　Nb5+　will　result　in　the　substitution　of　Ce　4+　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.　©　2013,　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights.