• Silica modification of Pt/TiO2 catalysts effectively suppresses the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) encapsulation, enhancing the exposure of active Pt sites.
• The introduction of SiO2 preserves the Ti4+ to Ti3+ conversion characteristic of SMSI while preventing TiO2 overcoating, leading to improved adsorption of H2 and CO.
• The modified catalysts exhibit significantly enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity in cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation, with suppressed acetal side reactions.
• This work provides a systematic strategy for tuning SMSI to balance catalyst stability and activity, with implications for designing efficient noble metal catalysts.