SBA-15,　possessing　uniform　mesopore　system　and　large　specific　surface　area,　shows　a　tremendous　mass　transfer　advantage　in　the　reactions　involving　reactant,　intermediate　or　product　whose　dynamic　diameter　is　larger　than　the　pore　size　of　microporous　zeolites,　but　the　low　acidity　greatly　limits　its　application　in　acid-catalyzed　reactions　(e.g.,　hydroisomerization).　Herein,　we　report　an　Al-functionalized　SBA-15　molecular　sieve　(Al-SBA-15)　with　enhanced　acidity　obtained　via　a　pH-adjusted　prehydrolysis　synthesis　approach　for　hydroisomerization.　Its　physicochemical　properties　and　catalytic　performance　were　carefully　characterized,　evaluated　in　hydroisomerization　of　n-octane　after　loading　active　component　Pt,　and　compared　with　a　pure　silica　SBA-15　and　two　Al-containing　samples　(AlSBA-15　and　Al/SBA-15)　produced　through　direct　synthesis　and　wetness　impregnation,　respectively.　The　results　show　that　the　acidity　of　three　Al-functionalized　samples　is　prominently　improved,　and　thus　the　conversion　of　n-octane　over　them　is　greatly　increased　when　compared　with　siliceous　SBA-15.　Moreover,　among　three　Al-containing　SBA-15　materials,　Al-SBA-15　with　the　largest　pore　diameter　and　moderate　acidity　exhibits　relatively　high　n-octane　conversion　and　di-branched　isomers　selectivity　but　minimal　cracking　selectivity.　These　results　demonstrate　that　pH-adjusted　prehydrolysis　is　an　effective　route　to　preparing　Al-functionalized　SBA-15　with　suitable　acidity　for　the　hydroisomerization　of　alkanes.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.