The　sidewalls　of　multiwalled　carbon　nanotubes　(MWCNTs)　were　decorated　with　CdS　nanoparticles　using　a　mild　two-step　approach,　with　in　situ　polymerized　thiophene　(PTh)　acting　as　an　interlinker.　Extensive　characterization　of　the　materials　has　been　carried　out　using　transmission　electron　microscopy,　selected　area　electron　diffraction,　X-ray　diffraction,　thermal　gravimetric　analysis,　ultraviolet-visible　absorption　spectroscopy　and　photoluminescence　spectroscopy.　Optical　limiting　(OL)　studies　have　been　performed　using　the　open　Z-scan　technique　at　the　laser　wavelengths　of　532　and　1064　nm.　The　MWCNT-PTh-CdS　system　shows　an　enhanced　OL　effect　in　comparison　to　the　pristine　MWCNTs,　particularly　at　1064　nm.　Possible　underlying　mechanisms　are　proposed　based　on　the　results　of　nonlinear　scattering　measurements.　©　2009　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.