The　design　and　construction　of　semiconductor-based　photocatalysts　with　high　activity　and　stability　toward　redox　reactions　is　an　imperative　requirement　for　practical　photocatalytic　applications.　Here,　we　report　that　tuning　light　irradiation　from　visible　light　to　UV–vis　light　can　simultaneously　improve　the　photocatalytic　activity　and　stability　of　ternary　ZnO-CdS-MoS2(ZCM)　heterostructure　catalyst　for　H2　evolution,　which　is　enabled　by　switching　the　interfacial　charge　transfer　channel　from　the　conventional　type-II　charge　transfer　pathway　to　the　direct　Z-scheme　pathway.　The　Z-scheme　system　boosts　more　efficient　charge　carrier　separation　and　consumption　of　holes　and　electrons　for　respective　redox　processes,　thereby　resulting　in　more　distinct　activity　enhancement　and　particularly　photocorrosion　inhibition　than　the　type-II　system　over　the　ZCM　photocatalyst.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.