One-step synthesis of CdS-reduced graphene oxide composites based on high-energy radiation technique

•Gamma-irradiation technique was utilized to synthesize CdS/RGO nanocomposites.•It was considered as a simple, safe and “green” method to synthesize nanocomposites.•Triethanolamine was innovatively used as a stabilizer for preparation of CdS/RGO.•Dense CdS nanoparticles attached on the surface of graphene homogeneously.

In this paper, we introduced a novel 60Co-ray-irradiation-based one-step synthesis method of nano-CdS-reduced graphene oxide composites (CdS/RGO) in aqueous solution. The synthesis approach is simple and green and may be applied in the synthesis of other RGO–metal-sulfide nanocomposites. Sodium thiosulfate was used as a sulfur source. Triethanolamine and glycerol were respectively used as the colloidal stabilizer and radical scavenger. The compositional distribution of the particles in the samples was demonstrated by X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.