We　report　the　design　and　synthesis　of　Nb2O5@diatomite　composite　materials.　The　composite　materials　are　prepared　by　the　hydrothermal　conversion　of　raw　diatomite　and　activated　niobic　acid　powder　in　ammonium　oxalate　aqueous　solution,　with　various　hydrothermal　reaction　durations.　The　specific　surface　area　of　the　diatomite　modified　by　Nb2O5　nanorods　reaches　a　maximum　of　153　m(2)/g,　which　is　almost　five　times　higher　than　that　of　raw　diatomite.　Insights　are　gained　into　the　function　of　sodium　dodecyl　benzene　sulfonate　and　the　mechanism　of　loading　Nb2O5　on　diatomite　in　the　solution　phase.　The　controllable　growth　dynamics　allow　the　morphology　and　production　of　the　Nb2O5@diatomite　structure　to　be　controlled.　Adsorption　experiments　indicate　that　the　diatomite　modified　by　Nb2O5　nanorods　is　an　effective　adsorbent　for　quickly　removing　Cr(VI)　from　wastewater　at　room　temperature.　The　maximum　adsorption　capacity　is　115　mg/g.　The　Cr(VI)　removal　capacity　is　further　improved　under　ultraviolet　light　irradiation,　owing　to　the　synergistic　effect　of　surface　adsorption　and　Nb2O5　photoreduction.　The　composite　therefore　has　potential　practical　application.　(C)　2018　Chinese　Society　of　Particuology　and　Institute　of　Process　Engineering,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.