Hierarchical mordenite zeolite nano-rods bundles were successfully synthesized by a novel approach of using organosilane functioned fumed silica as silicon source. The organic moiety linked on the surface of fumed silica inhibits the growth of zeolite crystal into large size, leading to the nano-rods assembled bundles. The mordenite nanorods bundles exhibited significantly improved mesitylene adsorption capacity compared with the conventional mordenite. As a catalyst, the hierarchical mordenite nanorods bundles showed remarkable catalytic performance in the benzylation of mesitylene by benzyl chloride, due to the efficient diffusion rate and improved accessibility of the active sites in the hierarchical mordenite nanorods bundles. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.