A series of hierarchical HZSM-5 coatings (HZCs) were prepared on stainless-steeled tubes (I.D. 2 mm) using mesoporous HZSM-5 zeolites (through controllable desilication with alkali-treatment). Catalytic cracking of n-dodecane was used as a model reaction to examine the catalytic performances of HZCs. It was found that the cracking conversion of n-dodecane in the presence of HZC-0.50 (the number after HZC representing the concentration of alkali solution) increased by 40% compared with the parent HZSM-5 coatings (PZC), while the deactivation rate was only 1/7 of PZC ascribed to the enhanced diffusion rates of reactants in the pores (ca. 2.35 times using n-octane as a probing molecule) due to the introduced mesopores in HZCs. And it is also demonstrated that the high catalytic activities are the mutual results from both acid amount and its accessibility. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.