To　solve　the　problem　of　contamination　of　hexavalent　chromium　(Cr(vi)),　visible-light-driven　graphene-based　ternary　metal　chalcogenide　nanosheets　(rGO/SnIn4S8)　were　synthesized　via　a　one-pot　surfactant-assisted　hydrothermal　method　for　the　photoreduction　of　Cr(vi).　Characterizations　demonstrated　that　SnIn4S8　nanosheets　were　uniformly　distributed　on　the　surface　of　rGO　and　the　as-synthesized　nanosheets　exhibited　excellent　photocatalytic　activity　under　visible　light.　In　addition,　the　effects　of　pH,　concentration　of　critic　acid,　holes　and　electron　scavengers　on　the　reduction　of　Cr(vi)　were　systematically　investigated.　It　was　found　that　50　mg　L-1　of　Cr(vi)　could　be　completely　removed　within　30　min　at　pH　2　when　citric　acid　served　as　a　hole　scavenger.　Kinetic　studies　showed　that　the　photocatalytic　reduction　of　Cr(vi)　processes　obeyed　the　pseudo　first　order　model.　Further　study　indicated　that　the　Cr(iii)　species　was　immediately　adsorbed　onto　the　surface　of　the　rGO/SnIn4S8　nanosheets　after　photocatalytic　reduction　of　Cr(vi).　Additionally,　recycling　results　suggested　that　rGO/SnIn4S8　nanosheets　possessed　high　recycle　ability　and　stability　after　repeated　use　(5　times).　This　effective　and　promising　work　might　provide　a　new　strategy　for　the　photoreduction　of　Cr(vi)　and　complete　removal　of　chromium　from　effluent　through　the　novel　photocatalyst　rGO/SnIn4S8.　©　2018　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.