Tetragonal　(T-In2S3)　and　cubic　(C-In2S3)　beta-In2S3　were　synthesized　by　hydrothermal　method.　The　obtained　products　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　diffuse　reflectance　spectra　(DRS),　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS),　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　technologies.　Their　photocatalytic　activity　for　hydrogen　evolution　from　water　under　visible　light　irradiation　(lambda　＞　400　nm)　was　evaluated.　It　was　revealed　that　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　beta-In2S3　was　strongly　affected　by　the　arrangement　characteristic　of　the　indium　vacancies.　The　vacancy　ordered　T-In2S3　showed　no　activity　for　hydrogen　production,　while　the　vacancy　disordered　C-In2S3　exhibited　stable　activity.　For　C-In2S3　sample,　further　studies　indicated　that　the　photoactivity　strongly　depended　on　the　nature　and　the　amount　of　noble　metal　cocatalyst.　The　optimum　loading　value　of　Pt　cocatalyst　was　found　to　be　2　wt.%.　With　this　loading　amount　as　a　reference　value,　the　hydrogen　production　rate　of　noble-metal-loaded　C-In2S3　decreased　in　the　order　Pd　＞　Pt　＞　Ru　＞　Au/C-In2S3.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.