Effects of Nb-modified CeVO4 to form surface Ce-O-Nb bonds on improving low-temperature NH3-SCR deNOx activity and resistance to SO2 & H2O

•Synthesis of novel ternary CeVO4 modified with different Nb contents catalysts.•>90 % NO conversion in the range of 210–420 °C with 5 %vol·H2O over CeNbVO-2.•Enhancing the surface acidity on CeNbVO-2 by adding proper amount of Nb.•Increase in active oxygen species due to formation of CeVO4 with Nbn+–O2−-Cen+ bonds.•Good activity assigned to the synergistic effect between acidity and redox property.