To achieve more effective coupling of cadmium sulfide (CdS) to the TiO2, single step synthesis of CdS/TiO2 composites is advantageous. In the present study a novel one pot synthesis of several CdS/TiO2 hetero-nanostructures was explored through combustion technique. As the process involves the simultaneous nucleation of CdS and TiO2 it leads to the proper connectivity between the constituent materials. All the catalysts were characterized by using several techniques and the excellent visible light activity of the composites has been asserted by the H2 production from water containing sacrificial reagents, removal of methylene blue and Cr(VI) from aqueous streams. Therefore the present synthetic strategy which is devoid of using molecular linker at interface is more suitable for solar applications, which require faster rates of electron transfer at the hetero junctions. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.