The　Mo/HZSM-5　is　a　widely　studied　bifunctional　methane　dehydroaromatization　(MDA)　catalyst,　and　the　acid　site　of　zeolite　is　essential　to　the　reaction　process.　In　this　study,　the　relationship　between　acid　site　control　and　MDA　reaction　performance　is　investigated.　The　Brønsted/Lewis　acid　sites　have　been　toned　by　introducing　promoters　to　the　ZSM-5　zeolite.　It　shows　that　proper　strong　Brønsted　acid　sites　are　conducive　to　aromatic　formation,　while　excessive　Brønsted　acid　sites　will　lead　to　serious　coke　deposition.　Thus,　the　MDA　catalytic　stability　is　further　improved　by　passivation　of　partial　Brønsted　acid　sites　of　Mo/HZSM-5　via　coating　Silicalite-1　on　the　catalyst　surface.　The　optimized　catalyst　shows　95　%　aromatic　selectivity　at　initial　with　only　0.06　h−1　deactivation　rate　constant.　The　surface　of　HZSM-5　is　reconstructed　after　hydrothermal　treatment　and　the　surface　aluminum　content　is　reduced.　Moreover,　the　Silicalite-1　layer　is　beneficial　to　Mo　species　dispersion　for　preventing　its　aggregation　and　stabilizing　the　Mo-C　active　sites.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd