Micelle-supported gold composites with a polystyrene core and a poly(4-vinyl pyridine)/Au shell are synthesized using NaBH4 to reduce a mixture of micelle and HAuCl4 in acidic aqueous solution (pH similar to 2). The template micelle with a polystyrene core and a poly(4-vinyl pyridine) shell is formed by self-assembly of block copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine). The gold nanoparticles coated onto the surfaces of the composites possess an average diameter of about 15 nm. The composites are applied to catalyze the reduction of p-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH4, and the results indicate that the kinetic constant of the reaction increases when the composite concentration and the reaction temperature increase. In addition, research results also indicate that composites with high content of gold show higher catalytic activity and higher catalytic efficiency. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.