CdS　nanowires-nitrogen　doped　graphene　(CdS　NWs-NGR)　nanocomposites　have　been　fabricated　by　an　electrostatic　self-assembly　strategy　followed　by　a　hydrothermal　reduction.　The　CdS　NWs-NGR　exhibits　higher　photoactivity　for　selective　reduction　of　aromatic　nitro　organics　in　water　under　visible　light　irradiation　than　blank　CdS　nanowires　(CdS　NWs)　and　CdS　nanowires-reduced　graphene　oxide　(CdS　NWs-RGO)　nanocomposites.　The　enhanced　photoactivity　of　CdS　NWs-NGR　can　be　attributed　to　the　improved　electronic　conductivity　due　to　the　introduction　of　nitrogen　atoms,　which　thus　enhances　the　separation　and　transfer　of　charge　carriers　photogenerated　from　CdS　NWs.　Our　work　could　provide　a　facile　method　to　synthesize　NGR　based　one-dimensional　(1D)　semiconductor　composites　for　selective　organic　transformations,　and　broaden　the　potential　applications　for　NGR　as　a　cocatalyst.　©　2015　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　the　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.