Abstract: NiY zeolite was synthesized through hydrothermal method, in which Ni was incorporated into the zeolite framework. With NiY and Y zeolites as the supports, a series of hydrocracking catalysts were prepared and characterized by XRD, SEM and NH₃-TPD; their catalytic performance in hydrocracking was evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor. The results indicated that the surface acidity of Y zeolite can be modified through introducing Ni into the framework. Compared with Ni-Mo/Y catalyst with Y as support, Ni-Mo/NY catalyst with NiY as support has more total acid sites but less strong acid sites; as a result, it exhibits higher cracking and desulfurization activity, higher stability and less coke deposition.