Polyelectrolyte　multilayering　is　a　good　technique　used　to　fabricate　nanofiltration　(NF)　membranes.　However,　the　stability　and　fouling　resistance　of　the　polyelectrolyte　membranes　should　be　improved　for　industrial　application.　In　this　study,　graphene　oxide　(GO)　nanosheets　were　assembled　with　polycation　to　form　a　multilayer　on　a　polyacrylonitrile　substrate　via　a　layer-by-layer　self-assembly　strategy.　The　migration　and　rearrangement　of　the　polyelectrolyte　chain　were　restricted　because　of　the　confinement　effect　of　a　neighboring　GO　nanosheet　layer.　Therefore,　the　anti-swelling　property　of　the　polycation/GO　multilayer　membrane　was　enhanced,　which　resulted　in　a　more　stable　performance.　The　fouling　resistance　of　the　multilayer　membrane　was　also　improved　because　of　the　anti-fouling　capability　of　the　GO　nanosheets.　The　polycation/GO　multilayer　membrane　was　used　to　remove　dye　from　water.　During　the　separation　of　methyl　blue　molecule　from　water　at　5　bar,　the　flux　and　retention　rate　of　the　obtained　multilayer　membrane　could　reach　6.42　kg　m(-2)　h(-1)　bar(-1)　and　99.2%,　respectively.　Compared　with　a　pure　polyelectrolyte　multilayer　membrane,　the　separation　performance,　stability,　and　fouling　resistance　of　the　polycation/GO　membranes　were　significantly　enhanced.　The　polycation/GO　multilayer　membrane　can　be　potentially　used　to　fabricate　NF　membranes　because　it　is　cost　efficient　and　GO　nanosheets　can　be　produced　in　a　large　scale.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.