A　series　of　CdS-graphene　(GR)　nanocomposites　with　different　weight　addition　ratios　of　GR　have　been　fabricated　via　a　facile　one-step　solvothermal　approach.　CdS-GR　nanocomposites　are　proven　to　serve　as　selective　visible　light　photocatalysts　toward　aerobic　selective　oxidation　of　alcohols　and　reduction　of　heavy　ions　Cr(VI),　instead　of　being　nonselective　in　water.　Furthermore,　we　find　that　decreasing　the　defect　density　of　GR　by　using　the　solvent-exfoliated　graphene　(SEG)　instead　of　graphene　oxide　(GO)　as　the　precursor　of　GR　can　efficiently　enhance　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　CdS-GR　nanocomposites　due　to　its　improved　electron　conductivity　as　compared　to　reduced　GO　(RGO).　In　addition,　the　hybridization　of　CdS　with　GR　(RGO,　SEG)　via　an　intimate　interfacial　interaction　can　also　effectively　inhibit　the　photocorrosion　of　CdS　during　the　photocatalytic　redox　reaction.　It　is　hoped　that　this　work　can　draw　attention　to　making　better　use　of　graphene　to　synthesize　more　efficient　GR-based　nanocomposite　photocatalysts　for　solar　energy　conversion,　especially　in　the　field　of　diverse　redox　processes　in　water　in　the　framework　of　green　chemistry.　(c)　2013　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.