Carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported Pt catalysts have been prepared by impregnation and reduction-precipitation method using chloroplatinic acid as metal precursor. The structure of the catalysts has been characterised using TEM, BET and XPS. The catalytic performance for nitrobenzene hydrogenation was evaluated under atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. The results show that the catalysts. both of low and higher Pt loading, show high activity for nitrobenzene directly hydrogenating to aniline under mild conditions. The highly dispersed Pt and mesoporosity structure of acid-oxidized CNT-supported Pt catalyst are responsible for the extraordinary activity. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.