CdS nanoparticles, prepared in reverse micellar system, were immobilized onto thiol-modified aluminosilicate particles (AS-SH) by a simple operation: addition of AS-SH in the micellar solution and mild stirring. The resulting US nanoparticles-aluminosilicate composites (AS-CdS) were used as photocatalysts for H-2 generation from 2-propanol aqueous solution. The chemical properties of the aluminosilicate, such as affinity for water and other reactants, were found to affect the photocatalytic property of the US nanoparticles immobilized. Zeolite particles, having affinity for water and 2-propanol, gave a good AS-CdS photocatalyst with respect to H-2 generation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.