Robust　CdS/RGO　composite　aerogels　were　fabricated　hydrothermally　from　GO　and　L-cysteine　(L-cys)　in　the　presence　of　Cd2+,　in　which　L-cys　acts　as　a　cross-linker,　reducing　agent　as　well　as　a　sulfur　source.　During　the　formation　of　RGO　aerogels,　the　in-situ　formed　CdS　nanoparticles　on　the　surface　of　RGO　act　as　spacers　to　assist　the　exfoliation　of　RGO　nanosheets,　resulting　in　the　formation　of　CdS/RGO　composite　aerogels　with　large　specific　surface　area　and　high　mechanical　strength.　Due　to　the　existence　of　more　exposed　adsorption　sites,　the　resultant　CdS/RGO　composite　aerogels　show　significantly　improved　adsorption　capabilities　toward　a　variety　of　oils　and　organic　solvents　in　water,　as　compared　with　bare　cys-RGO　aerogels.　The　facile　method　in　the　fabrication　of　CdS/RGO　composite　aerogels　was　also　applied　to　fabricate　other　metal　sulfur-containing　composite　aerogels　with　larger　specific　surface　area　and　superior　adsorption　capabilities,　such　as　CuS/RGO　and　Ag2S/RGO　composite　aerogels.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.