A Pt@TNT catalyst with Pt nanoparticles entrapped in titanate nanotubes (TNT) was prepared by hydrophobic modification of the exterior surface of the TNT and impregnation with hexachloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) aqueous solution. The catalyst's enhanced activity towards the hydrogenation of phenol (as high as ∼3200 gphenol h(-1) gPt(-1) of qTOF) can be ascribed to the confinement effect.