Microwave-assisted synthesis of CdS–reduced graphene oxide composites for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(vi)This article is part of the ChemComm‘Artificial photosynthesis’ web themed issueElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c1cc14875c

CdS–reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites are successfully synthesized viathe microwave-assisted reduction of graphite oxide in a CdS precursor solution using a microwave synthesis system. The photocatalytic performances of CdS–RGO composites in the reduction of Cr(vi) are investigated. The results show that CdS–RGO composites exhibit enhanced photocatalytic performance for the reduction of Cr(vi) with a maximum removal rate of 92% under visible light irradiation as compared with pure CdS (79%) due to the increased light absorption intensity and the reduction of electron–hole pair recombination in CdS with the introduction of RGO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]