Zr-pillared　Montmorillonites　(Zr-PILM)　were　prepared　by　the　hydrothermal　method　with　montmorillonite　as　raw　material　and　zirconium　oxychloride　as　Zr　source　of　pillaring　agent.　The　properties　of　the　samples　were　characterized　by　XRD,BET,　SEM,　TEM,　XPS.　Effects　of　the　synthesizing　conditions　on　the　structures　of　Zr-PILM　were　investigated.　The　results　indicate　that　Zr-PILM　retains　complete　layered　and　sheeting　structure,　and　its　BET　surface　area　and　micropore　volume　increases　greatly.　ZrO　2　exists　in　Zr　-　PILM　layers.The　catalytic　reaction　result　of　MTO　shows　that　Zr-PILM　has　high　catalytic　activities　for　MTO　reaction.　©　(2012)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.