Two-dimensional　nanosheets　are　considered　promising　materials　for　membranes.　However,　the　excessively　long　interlayer　channels　parallel　to　the　membrane　surface　are　not　conducive　to　molecular　transport.　Creating　defects　on　the　nanosheets　is　an　effective　method　to　shorten　the　transport　distance　in　the　membrane.　This　study　involved　exfoliating　and　etching　several　commonly　used　layered　double　hydroxide　(LDH)　nanosheets　using　an　alkali　solution　in　a　single　step.　This　process　resulted　in　porous　oligolayered　nanosheets　modified　layered　double　hydroxide　(MgAl-MLDH)　with　an　average　pore　size　of　approximately　18　±　2　nm　and　a　thickness　of　around　8　nm.　These　ultrathin　porous　MgAl-MLDH　nanosheets　were　used　to　create　a　composite　membrane　using　a　vacuum-assisted　filtration　method.　The　structure　of　the　MgAl-MLDH　membrane　was　optimized　by　adjusting　the　etching　conditions.　The　water　flux　of　MgAl-MLDH　membrane　in　Eriochrome　black　T　aqueous　solution　was　530　L/m2　h　MPa.　Compared　with　the　non-etched　LDH　membrane　(179　L/m2　h　MPa),　the　permeance　of　MLDH　membrane　was　increased　by　2　to　3　times,　while　the　rejection　rate　remained　at　approximately　99　%.　Furthermore,　due　to　the　excellent　strength　of　LDH,　the　membrane　exhibited　good　stability　in　both　structure　and　separation　performance.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.