Polyoxocation ([AlO 4 Al 12 (OH) 24 (H 2 O) 12 ] 7? and [Zr 4 (OH) 14 (H 2 O) 10 ] 2? )-pillared montmorillonites were prepared by ion exchange, and they were used as solid acid catalysts, in comparison to some other solid acids, for the selective hydrocracking of Fischer-Tropsch waxes to diesel-ranged hydrocarbons. XRD patterns and elemental analyses proved that the polyoxocations were successfully introduced into the interlayer region of the montmorillonites. N 2 adsorption-desorption measurement indicated that polyoxocation-pillared montmorillonites have large BET surface areas ([230 m 2 g -1 ), high thermal stability ([673 K), and large pores (comparing to those in zeolites). FT-IR spectra of chemisorbed pyridine indicated that polyoxocation-pillared montmorillonites possess both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites on the solid surface. Temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia indicated that the acidity strength of the polyoxocation-pillared montmorillonites was weaker than those of H-ZSM-5, H-Y, WO