Confined Pt and $CoFe_2O_4$ nanoparticles (NPs) in a mesoporous core/shell silica microsphere, Pt-$CoFe_2O_4$@meso-$SiO_2$, were prepared using a bi-functional linker molecule. A large number of Pt NPs in Pt-$CoFe_2O_4$@meso-$SiO_2$, ranging from 5 to...
Confined Pt and $CoFe_2O_4$ nanoparticles (NPs) in a mesoporous core/shell silica microsphere, Pt-$CoFe_2O_4$@meso-$SiO_2$, were prepared using a bi-functional linker molecule. A large number of Pt NPs in Pt-$CoFe_2O_4$@meso-$SiO_2$, ranging from 5 to 8 nm, are embedded into the shell and some of them are in close contact with $CoFe_2O_4$ NPs. The hydrogenation of cyclohexene over the Pt-$CoFe_2O_4$@meso-$SiO_2$ microsphere at $25^{\circ}C$ and 1 atm of $H_2$ yields cyclohexane as a major product. In addition, it gives oxygenated products. Control experiments with $^{18}O$-labelled water and acetone suggest that surface-bound oxygen atoms in $CoFe_2O_4$ are associated with the formation of the oxygenated products. This oxidation reaction is operative only if $CoFe_2O_4$ and Pt NPs are in close contact. The Pt-$CoFe_2O_4$@meso-$SiO_2$ catalyst is separated simply by a magnet, which can be re-used without affecting the catalytic efficiency.