Silica-supported Pt nanoparticles were prepared by intercalation of [Pt(NH3)(4)](2+) ons into layered silicate Na-ilerite. This material, with a high amount of Pt (20 wt.%), was used as a metal support in mechanical mixtures with the acidic zeolite, H-erionite, and tested for the conversion of n-hexane. The activity of these mechanical mixtures is comparable to those of the classical bifunctional systems consisting of Pt/H-erionite. The synergistic effect is explained in terms of the spillover of activated hydrogen. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.