The　selective　transformation　of　5-hydroxymethylfurfural　(HMF)　to　2,5-diformylfuran　(DFF)　with　coproduction　of　hydrogen　under　visible　light　is　appealing　yet　still　challenging.　In　this　manuscript,　Pt/CdS　nanocomposites　obtained　via　photoreduction　of　[PtCl6]2-　over　CdS　were　found　to　be　an　efficient　and　chemoselective　photocatalyst　for　dehydrogenation　of　HMF　to　produce　DFF　under　visible　light,　with　simultaneously　generation　of　stoichiometric　hydrogen.　An　optimum　performance　was　observed　over　1.0　wt%　Pt/CdS　nanocomposite,　with　a　complete　conversion　of　HMF　to　DFF　and　stoichiometric　hydrogen　generated　in　14　h.　By　comparison　with　the　performance　over　MoS2/CdS,　it　is　revealed　that　the　superior　performance　for　photocatalytic　dehydrogenation　of　HMF　over　Pt/CdS　should　be　ascribed　to　the　strong　interaction　between　the　furan　ring　in　HMF　with　Pt　nanoparticles　(NPs),　which　enables　the　protons　released　from　HMF　to　fast　transfer　to　Pt　NPs　in　close　vicinity　for　further　reduction　to　generate　hydrogen.　This　study　provides　an　efficient　and　green　strategy　for　the　simultaneous　transformation　of　biomass-derived　HMF　to　DFF　and　the　production　of　clean　energy　hydrogen.　This　work　also　highlights　the　great　potential　of　photocatalysis　in　biomass　valorization.　©　2022　Elsevier　Inc.