A　series　of　silicates　have　been　prepared　by　using　mixed　templates　including　Pluronic　P123,　polyvinyl　pyrrolidone　(PVP),　or　cholesterol,　and　doping　of　zirconium　and　phosphotungstic　acid　in　a　sol-gel　process.　Various　characterizations　reveal　the　synthetic　silicates　have　flake-like　morphologies　and　good　porosities.　Some　of　silicates　contain　zirconium,　while　others　incorporate　both　zirconium　and　phosphotungstic　acid.　The　conversions　of　D-(-)-fructose　catalyzed　by　synthetic　silicates　show　5-(hydroxymethyl)-furfural　as　main　product,　while　methyl　2-furoate　and　sucrose　are　by-products.　The　structure-activity　relationship　of　catalyst　and　effects　of　solvent　and　temperature　are　discussed.　Moreover,　one　silicate　exhibits　good　recycling　potential,　whose　metal　center　could　be　recovered　gradually.　The　catalytic　mechanism　is　proposed　too.　When　facing　energy　challenges　nowadays,　this　study　may　provide　some　new　insights　into　conversion　of　fructose　for　developing　sustainable　energies.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.