Core-shell PS/PANI/Au composites were prepared by a novel method with the help of the electrostatic attraction between Au(en)23+ and −SO3−. The core-shell PS/PANI/Au composites performed high efficiency in catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to corresponding 4-aminophenol with NaBH4 as reducing agent. The reaction rate constants were calculated through the pseudo-first-order kinetic equation, which were comparable with that of Au catalyst in the literature.