The present work reports the synthesis of a Pt-modified NiO–Al₂O₃ nanocomposite derived from graphene-supported layered double hydroxide (Pt–NiO/G) and demonstrates its catalytic activity. The resulting Pt–NiO/G nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM and XPS techniques and used for catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (P-NP) to p-aminophenol (P-AP). The influence of graphene on catalytic activity was comparatively considered by preparation of Pt–NiO nanoparticles derived from layered double hydroxide. The superior catalytic performance of Pt–NiO/G was ascribed to the synergistic effect between Pt and NiO. Furthermore, reduction of P-NP was considered to follow a pseudo-first-order kinetic and a Langmuir–Hinshelwood model was suggested for the mechanism of reduction reaction.