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 g_phenol h⁻¹ g_Pt⁻¹ of qTOF) can be ascribed to the confinement effect.