One-dimensional　CdS　nanowires-carbon　nanotubes　nanocomposites　(1D-1D　CdS　NWs-CNT　NCs)　with　different　weight　addition　ratios　of　CNT　have　been　synthesized　by　a　very　simple　room　temperature　self-assembly　method,　which　is　afforded　by　electrostatic　attractive　interaction　between　positively　charged　CdS　NWs　and　negatively　charged　CNT　in　an　aqueous　solution.　Importantly,　the　CdS　NWs-CNT　NCs　exhibit　remarkably　enhanced　photoactivity　toward　selective　reduction　of　aromatic　nitro　organics　in　water　under　visible　light　irradiation　as　compared　to　bare　CdS　NWs.　The　significantly　enhanced　photoactivity　is　attributed　to　the　integrated　factors　of　the　unique　1D-1D　morphology　associated　with　CdS　NWs　and　CNT,　the　efficient　retardation　of　recombination　of　the　photoexcited　electron-hole　pairs,　and　the　enhanced　visible　light　absorption　intensity.　Besides,　the　CdS　NWs-CNT　NCs　exhibit　higher　photoactivity　than　CdS　NWs-reduced　graphene　oxide　(CdS　NWs-RGO　NCs),　toward　selective　reduction　of　aromatic　nitro　organics.　Therefore,　this　work　not　only　offers　a　very　simple　room　temperature　approach　to　synthesize　highly　efficient　1D　semiconductor-1D　CNT　composite　photocatalyst,　but　also　gives　an　example　that　RGO　cannot　readily　manifest　its　unique　and　prominent　advantage　over　CNT　for　specific　photocatalytic　application,　thus　underpinning　the　importance　of　rationally　utilizing　the　carbon　materials　(e.g.,　1D　CNT,　2D　RGO)　to　design　more　efficient　carbon-semiconductor　composite　photocatalyst.　©　2013　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.