A　series　of　self-solidifying　hybrid　ionic　liquids　(SHILs)　were　synthesised　via　a　mild　nucleophilic　substitution　reaction　between　(3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane　and　1,3-propanesultone　followed　by　a　facile　sol-gel　reaction,　during　which　not　any　acid,　catalyst　or　support　was　introduced.　Part　of　the　grafted　–SO3H　groups　would　make　SHILs　become　solid　nature　by　forming　the　zwitterion,　while　the　rest　of　–SO3H　groups　could　endue　SHILs　with　acidic　catalytic　sites.　Besides,　–Si–O–Si–　networks　formed　by　the　sol-gel　reaction　would　further　impart　the　water-tolerance　and　heterogeneity　to　SHILs,　conducive　to　the　easy　separation　and　good　reusability.　For　the　oleic　acid　esterification　catalysed　by　P-APTMS-PS-5　SHIL,　96.55%　conversion　was　achieved　under　appropriate　conditions　(optimised　by　response　surface　methodology),　and　the　catalytic　activity　well　remained　after　7　cycles.　More　importantly,　SHILs　exhibited　excellent　catalytic　activity　and　satisfactory　generality　in　the　esterification　of　various　free　fatty　acids,　as　well　as　in　the　transesterification　of　different　oils,　signifying　the　great　potential　for　biodiesel　production.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd