The Nb2O5-TiO2 catalyst system was synthesized via sol-gel method and investigated for adsorption/catalytic combustion of toxic 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), which was usually recognized as a representative of various chlorinated and brominated VOCs pollutants. The research results of structure-performance relationship revealed that binary Nb2O5-TiO2 were amorphous and mesoporous materials with pore diameter mainly in the range of 2-10 nm, and Nb and Ti elements were uniformly dispersed. The interaction between Nb2O5 and TiO2 coupled with the molar ratio of Nb/Ti improved the physicochemical properties of Nb2O5-TiO2. Moreover, Nb2O5-TiO2 exhibited higher catalytic activity for DCE combustion than single Nb2O5 or TiO2. Especially, the 2Nb(1)Ti catalyst (Nb/Ti = 2: 1, molar ratio) displayed the highest activity, over which 90% conversion of DCE could be achieved at 295 degrees C. These results were related to that the interaction effect between Nb2O5 and TiO2 improved acidity and oxidizing properties, and the materials had large surface area, all of which were favorable for adsorbing DCE at relatively low temperatures (below 93 degrees C) on Nb2O5-TiO2 and then improving catalytic combustion performance at lower reaction temperatures than Nb2O5 or TiO2. Besides, during the long-term continuous reaction, even though partial deactivation was observed for this catalyst, it could be suppressed at elevated temperature.