The　cadmium　sulfide　(CdS)　microsphere　decorated　graphene　(GR)　nanocomposite　(GR-CdS)　was　prepared　by　a　facile　hydrothermal　approach　in　which　CdS　ingredients　were　closely　enwrapped　by　the　GR　scaffold.　The　GR-CdS　nanocomposite　was　subjected　to　a　number　of　characterizations　including　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(DRS),　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FESEM),　transmission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　It　was　found　that　integration　of　CdS　microspheres　with　two-dimensional　GR　scaffolds　exerts　a　profound　influence　on　the　properties　of　hybrid　nanocomposites,　such　as　optical　and　electronic　nature　along　with　morphology.　Photocatalytic　performances　of　the　GR-CdS　nanocomposites　were　evaluated　by　selective　organic　transformation　under　mild　conditions.　The　results　demonstrate　that　the　GR-CdS　nanocomposite　can　serve　as　an　efficient　visible-light-driven　photocatalyst　for　the　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　to　benzaldehyde　under　ambient　conditions.　The　significantly　enhanced　photocatalytic　performance　of　GR-CdS　nanocomposites　can　be　attributed　to　the　synergistic　effect　of　enhanced　light　absorption　intensity　and　high　electron　conductivity　of　GR,　which　facilitates　charge　separation　and　lengthens　the　lifetime　of　photogenerated　electron-hole　pairs.　Moreover,　photocatalytic　performances　of　various　GR-CdS　nanocomposites　featuring　different　degrees　of　interfacial　contact　between　GR　and　CdS　were　also　systematically　explored.　It　is　anticipated　that　our　work　could　enrich　the　information　on　the　preparation　of　narrow　bandgap　semiconductor/GR　hybrid　nanocomposites　for　a　wide　range　of　photocatalytic　applications.　©　2014　the　Partner　Organisations.