ZSM-5 zeolites with similar SUM ratio were synthesized successfully using various templates (n-butylamine (BTA), ethylamine (ETA), isopropylamine (IPA), ethylenediamine (EDA), ethanol (ETL), ethanol-ammonium (ETL-AM) and no template (NT)) under hydrothermal conditions. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, XRF, NH3-TPD and BET surface area measurements in order to understand the template effects and the differences of the ZSM-5 samples. The synthesis of ZSM-5 with organic templates was relatively easier than those with inorganic templates and without template. SEM results revealed that ZSM-5 synthesized with different templates had different morphology and particle size. The Si/Al ratio and BET specific surface area of the sample with ethanol as template was the lowest. NH3-TPD results showed that the sample synthesized without template had fewer strong acid sites than others. n-Hexane cracking reaction was carried out over the samples to evaluate the catalytic properties. All ZSM-5 zeolites were effective in n-hexane cracking reaction, especially for the sample synthesized without template. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.