Ni　nanoparticles　were　prepared　via　chemical　reduction　of　NiCl2　by　NaBH4　in　the　presence　of　polyvinlylpyrolidone　(PVP),　and　loaded　on　the　surface　of　CdS　by　photo-induced　electrons　while　water　splitting　reaction　occurred　simultaneously.　Resultant　Ni/CdS　was　characterized　by　high-resolution　transmission　electron　microscopy,　X-ray　diffraction,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　ultraviolet-visible　light　diffuse　reflectance　spectrometry,　and　photoluminescence　spectrometry.　It　was　found　that　as-prepared　Ni　nanoparticles　are　about　3　nm,　and　preferentially　deposited　on　(1　0　0),　(0　0　2),　and　(1　0　1)　crystal　planes　of　CdS.　Meanwhile,　loading　nickel　decreases　the　photoluminescence　intensity　of　CdS,　which　means　nickel　functions　as　the　trapper　of　photo-generated　electrons.　Therefore,　nano-Ni/CdS　photocatalyst　with　a　Ni　loading　of　2.5%　possesses　the　best　visible-light　catalytic　activity　for　water　splitting-hydrogen　evolution　and　provides　a　hydrogen　production　rate　of　up　to　9050　μmol　h-1　g-1,　while　it　exhibits　stabilized　activity　towards　H2　evolution　as　well.　©　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.