We　described　a　chemical　method　for　effectively　fabricating　Nb3O7(OH)　nanorod　and　nanosheet　thin　films　on　Nb　metal　substrates　under　hydrothermal　conditions.　It　was　proposed　that　the　nanosheets　were　evolved　through　neighboring　nanorod　aggregation　and　mergence,　which　was　attributed　to　a　coalescence　growth　mechanism.　These　nanostructured　Nb3O7(OH)　thin　films　could　be　used　as　catalyst　for　the　degradation　of　rhodamine　B　aqueous　solution　under　UV　light　illumination.　These　results　suggest　that　our　fabrication　approach　constitutes　some　promising　steps　for　generating　nanostructured　films　by　chemical　strategy,　and　allow　us　to　pursue　potential　applications　in　other　areas,　such　as　sensors,　catalytic　oxidation,　and　solar　cells.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.　V.　All　rights　reserved.