In　this　work,　an　oil-soluble　ionic　liquid　(IL)　was　combined　with　mixed　metal　oxide　for　in　situ　generation　of　bifunctional　catalysts　for　slurry-phase　heavy　oil　hydrocracking.　The　oil-soluble　IL　selected　was　trihexylmethylammonium　molybdate　([N6661]2MoO4),　and　the　mixed　metal　oxide　selected　was　SiO2-ZrO2.　The　performance　of　using　[N6661]2MoO4　and　SiO2-ZrO2　for　slurry-phase　hydrocracking　was　examined　systematically.　It　is　found　that　the　addition　of　SiO2-ZrO2　can　significantly　improve　the　conversion　of　residue　to　distillate　and　the　gas　and　coke　yields　are　also　improved.　The　MoS2/SiO2-ZrO2　bifunctional　catalysts　in　situ　generated　in　the　reaction　system　were　collected　for　detailed　characterizations.　The　MoS2　slabs　are　in　a　highly　dispersed　and　sulfurized　status　in　the　matrix　of　SiO2-ZrO2,　and　there　are　also　abundant　acidic　sites　in　resultant　bifunctional　catalysts.　The　kinetics　of　slurry-phase　hydrocracking　was　further　investigated　to　disclose　the　reaction　routes　for　the　conversion　of　residue　and　the　role　of　adding　SiO2-ZrO2　in　promoting　the　hydrocracking　reactions.　©　2023　American　Chemical　Society.