Developing　high-efficiency　photocatalysts　for　water　decomposition　is　one　of　the　major　challenges　in　converting　solar　energy　to　chemical　energy.　In　this　paper,　Ni(OH)2　modified　Mn0.5Cd0.5S　solid　solution　without　the　use　of　precious　metals　is　successfully　synthesized　via　hydrothermal　method　followed　by　precipitation,　the　photocatalytic　activity　for　hydrogen　evolution　and　stability　of　composite　samples　present　significant　improvement　with　respect　to　the　pristine　Mn0.5Cd0.5S.　These　improvements　are　attributed　to　that　Mn0.5Cd0.5S　CB　potential　(−0.7　V　vs.　NHE)　is　more　negative　than　the　potential　of　Ni2+/Ni　(−0.23　V　vs.　NHE),　which　promotes　the　transfer　of　photo-generated　electrons　from　Mn0.5Cd0.5S　CB　to　Ni(OH)2　for　H2　production　as　well　as　partial　reduction　of　Ni2+　to　Ni0,　leaving　VB　holes　to　oxidize　the　sacrificial　reagents.　The　metal　Ni　atoms　with　conductivity　and　Ni(OH)2　nanoparticles　not　only　boost　the　segregation　and　transfer　of　photo-induced　carriers　but　also　act　as　water-reduction　promoter,　thereby　promoting　the　photocatalytic　activity　for　hydrogen　release.　A　novel　visible　light　responsive　MnxCd1-xS-based　photocatalytic　material　promising　for　practical　applications　is　provided　in　this　subject.　©　2020　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC