A new and simple method for preparing multi-functional nano-sized silica-silica or zirconia-silica bimodal pore catalyst support was developed by direct introduction of silica or zirconia sols into silica gel. The pores of the obtained bimodal pore supports distributed distinctly as two kinds of main pores. On the other hand, the increased BET surface area and decreased pore volume, compared to those of original silica gel, indicated that the obtained bimodal pore supports formed according to the designed route, and it is found that the zirconia-silica bimodal support improved catalyst activity significantly via not only spatial effect, the intrinsic property of the bimodal structure, but also chemically promotional effect of zirconia, when this kind of support was applied in the liquid-phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) as a cobalt-loading catalyst. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.