The obtained cornlike 1D nanostructures of α-Fe2O3 nanorods/CdS nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV−vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis techniques.