Unsupported bimetallic Co/Pt nanoparticles (NPs) of 4.4 ± 1.9 nm can be easily obtained by a simple reaction of [bis(cylopentadienyl)cobalt(ii)] and [tris(dibenzylideneacetone) bisplatinum(0)] complexes in 1-n-butyl-3- methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate IL at 150 °C under hydrogen (10 bar) for 24 h. These bimetallic NPs display core-shell like structures in which mainly Pt composes the external shell and its concentration decreases in the inner-shells (CoPt3@Pt-like structure). XPS and EXAFS analyses show the restructuration of the metal composition at the NP surface when they are subjected to hydrogen and posterior H2S sulfidation, thus inducing the migration of Co atoms to the external shells of the bimetallic NPs. Furthermore, the isolated bimetallic NPs are active catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, with selectivity for naphtha products. This journal is © the Partner Organisations 2014.