Solvothermal and chemical reduction of graphene oxide with N2H4 or HI affect the surface composition, rupture and delamination degree of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Higher reduction and stacking of rGO was achieved by chemical reduction with HI, while solvothermal reduction and, especially, the chemical reduction with N2H4 lead to higher delamination of rGO. The incorporation of the different rGO to CdS implies changes in the characteristics and photoactivity of the CdS-rGO hybrids. A promoter effect was observed in all CdS-rGO hybrids respect to the photoactivity of bare CdS, observing the better photoactivity on the hybrid in which the graphene oxide was reduced with HI (CdS-rGO/HI). The variations in the photoactivity of CdS-rGO hybrids are analyzed in terms of changes in the structure, surface and light absorption ability of CdS and also analyzing the contact of CdS with rGO. The greater concentration of small CdS nanostructures with strong quantum confinement is in the origin of the enhancement in photoactivity observed in the CdS-rGO/HI hybrid. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.