Developing　catalysts　with　not　only　hydrogenation　activity　but　also　cracking　activity　is　very　important　for　the　advancement　of　suspended-bed　hydrocracking　technology.　Within　this　respect,　MoS2/SiO2-Al2O3　bifunctional　catalyst　is　a　kind　of　typical　catalysts　with　both　hydrogenation　and　cracking　activity.　Herein,　a　series　of　Zr-doped　SiO2-Al2O3　mixed　oxides　were　synthesized　by　a　sol-gel　coupled　with　hydrothermal　method.　The　synthesized　mixed　oxides　were　characterized　for　chemical　structures　and　acidic　properties.　It　is　found　that　doping　SiO2-Al2O3　with　Zr　atoms　significantly　increases　the　numbers　of　acidic　sites.　The　Zr-doped　SiO2-Al(2)O(3)mixed　oxides　were　then　combined　with　dispersed　MoS2,　which　was　in-situ　produced　from　oil-soluble　Mo　precursors,　to　fabricate　a　novel　kind　of　bifunctional　catalysts　for　suspended-bed　hydrocracking　of　heavy　oils.　Owing　to　the　significantly　increased　numbers　of　acidic　sites　in　Zr-doped　SiO2-Al2O3　mixed　oxides,　corresponding　bifunctional　catalysts　demonstrate　much　enhanced　activity　for　suspended-bed　hydrocracking　of　heavy　oils　in　relative　to　MoS2/SiO2-Al2O3　bifunctional　catalysts.　(C)　2021　The　Chemical　Industry　and　Engineering　Society　of　China,　and　Chemical　Industry　Press　Co.,　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.