Various　1D　CdS　nanorod　composites　(e.g.　NiO/CdS,　NiS/CdS　and　Ni(OH)2/CdS)　were　constructed　by　anchoring　Ni-based　cocatalysts　on　the　surface　of　CdS　nanorods.　Photocatalytic　reforming　of　lactic　acid　in　aqueous　medium　for　hydrogen　generation　using　CdS　composites　was　investigated,　and　Ni(OH)2/CdS　sample　displayed　the　best　activity.　Evidently,　Ni(OH)2　cocatalyst　can　offer　a　suitable　potential　position　to　boost　the　transfer　of　photo-generated　electrons　and　much　more　active　sites.　Furthermore,　the　result　of　LSV　curves　discloses　that　the　higher　photocatalytic　activity　is　due　to　the　smaller　onset　overpotential,　which　can　accelerate　the　reduction　of　protons　into　H2.　This　work　provides　a　full　comprehension　of　the　mechanism　that　Ni　species　cocatalysts　improve　photocatalytic　activity.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.