Two-dimensional　metal-organic　framework　nanosheets　(2D　MONs)　are　excellent　heterogeneous　catalysts　owing　to　their　high　density　and　accessible　catalytic　sites,　reduced　diffusion　pathways　for　reactants/products,　and　fast　electron　transport.　Moreover,　the　employment　of　2D　MONs　as　supports　to　encapsulate　noble　na-noparticles　can　not　only　stabilize　the　noble　nanoparticles,　but　also　significantly　improve　their　catalytic　activity　through　the　synergetic　effect　between　2D　MONs　and　noble　nanoparticles.　Herein,　we　reported　a　microwave-assisted　method　for　the　rapid　preparation　of　2D　UiO-67　metal-organic　framework　nanosheets　(named　UiO-67　NS).　The　Au　nanoparticles　modified　UiO-67　nanocomposites　(denoted　as　Au/UiO-67　NS　nanocomposites)　are　formed　by　the　in　situ　reduction　of　HAuCl4　in　the　pores　of　UiO-67　NS.　The　Au/UiO-67　NS　nanocomposites　show　excellent　catalytic　activity　for　the　reduction　of　4-nitrophenol　to　4-aminophenol,　and　only　20　equivalent　sodium　borohydride　can　completely　reduce　10　mM　4-NP　in　100　s,　thanks　to　highly　exposed　Au　NPs　and　reduced　diffusion　distance.　In　addition,　XPS　characterizations　showed　that　the　binding　energy　of　Au　4　f　in　Au/UiO-67　NS　nanocomposites　displays　a　0.48　eV　less　than　that　of　Au　nanoparticles　on　UiO-67　octahedral　microcrystals　(denoted　as　Au@UiO-67　OM),　which　is　believed　to　be　responsible　for　the　enhanced　catalytic　activity　toward　the　reduction　of　4-nitrophenol.　(C)　2022　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.