Two-dimensional　nanomaterial　semiconductor　is　an　efficient　photocatalyst　due　to　the　unique　properties　such　as　abundant　exposed　active　sites　and　large　contact　area　with　reactant.　Herein,　a　hierarchical　architecture　that　consists　of　highly　dispersed　ZnS　nanosheets　(ZnS　NSs)　with　S　vacancies　vertically　anchored　on　the　Zn-In-layered-double-hydroxide　(Zn-In-LDH)　is　successfully　constructed　through　in　situ　etching　growth　process.　The　defective　ZnS　NSs　grown　perpendicularly　on　the　Zn-In-LDH　surfaces　with　abundant　exposed　area　disperse　extensively　and　exhibit　good　performance　of　photocatalytic　hydrogen　production　under　visible　light　irradiation.　It　is　due　to　the　synergistic　effect　of　large　specific　surface　area,　separate　vertically　grown　ZnS　NSs　and　S　defects,　that　the　optical　ZnS/Zn-In-LDH　composite　shows　an　improved　H2　evolution　rate　of　49.3　μmol　h−1[rad]gcat−1　(154.8　μmol　h−1[rad]gZnS−1)　and　the　AQE　at　415　nm　can　be　as　high　as　1.315　%.　Besides,　this　work　is　expected　to　facilitate　other　analogous　nanosheets　synthesized　based　on　the　layered　double　hydroxides.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.