CdS-TiO2-Au composites were synthesized via microwave-assisted reaction of CdS precursor and chloroaurate solution with TiO2 suspension using a microwave system. The photocatalytic performance of CdS-TiO2-Au composites in degradation of methyl orange was investigated. The results show that CdS-TiO2-Au composites exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic performance with maximum degradation rate of 98% under visible light irradiation as compared with pure TiO2 (43%) and CdS-TiO2 (80%) composite due to the increased light absorption intensity and the reduction of electron-hole pair recombination with the introduction of Au. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.