An acidic ionic liquid modified microfiber attapulgite (MFA)-supported nickel was prepared by thermally decomposing nickel tetracarbonyl onto MFA modified with an acidic ion liquid (AIL, 1-sulfobutyl-3methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate). It was characterized with multiple instruments and used for catalyzing hydroconversion of coal-related model compounds (CRMCs) di(1-naphthyl)methane, diphenylmethane, bibenzyl, and 1,3-diphenylpropane. The results indicate that Ni/MFA@AIL effectively catalyzes hydroconversion of the CRMCs to afford cyclanes and alkylcyclanes by inducing the formation of H+,H-, and biatomic active hydrogen species. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.