MoS2/ZnIn2S4　nanocomposites　were　prepared　by　impregnating　the　hydrothermally　prepared　hexagonal　ZnIn2S4　microspheres　with　an　aqueous　solution　of　(NH4)(2)MoS4,　followed　by　a　treatment　in　H2S　flow　at　high　temperatures　to　transform　Mo(VI)　to　Mo(IV).　The　as-prepared　MoS2/ZnIn2S4　nanocomposites　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　Raman　spectroscopy,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　and　high-resolution　transmission　electron　microscopy　(HRTEM).　Their　photocatalytic　performance　for　hydrogen　evolution　under　visible　light　irradiations　was　also　investigated.　It　was　found　that　the　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution　activity　over　hexagonal　ZnIn2S4　can　be　significantly　increased　by　loading　MoS2　as　a　co-catalyst　and　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　MoS2/ZnIn2S4　nanocomposites　could　be　even　higher　than　that　of　Pt/ZnIn2S4　under　similar　reaction　condition.　Amorphous　MoS2　was　for　the　first　time　shown　to　exhibit　excellent　promoting　effect　for　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution.　The　promoting　effect　played　by　amorphous　MoS2　can　be　ascribed　to　the　existence　of　many　defect　sites　in　amorphous　MoS2　which　can　act　as　adsorption　sites　for　hydrogen　atoms　and　eventually　leads　to　hydrogen　evolution.　This　work　demonstrates　a　high　potential　of　the　developing　of　environmental　friendly,　cheap　noble　metal-free　co-catalyst　for　semiconductor-based　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.