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　nanoparticles　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.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.