Exploring　robust　and　low-cost　co-catalysts　to　substitute　precious　noble　metals　is　of　great　importance　in　both　fundamental　research　and　practical　applications.　In　this　research,　after　loading　amorphous　NixP　on　CdS　nanorods　by　a　photodeposition　method,　the　photocatalytic　hydrogen　production　activity　of　the　as-prepared　NixP/CdS　from　water　splitting　was　significantly　improved.　The　optimal　hydrogen　production　rate　of　the　NixP/CdS　photocatalyst　with　a　20　min　photodeposition　time　can　reach　up　to　69.2　mmol　h(-1)　g(-1),　which　is　27　times　higher　than　that　of　bare　CdS　and　6　times　higher　than　that　of　1　wt%　Pt/CdS,　respectively.　The　presence　of　NixP　can　efficiently　promote　the　separation　of　photo-generated　electron-hole　pairs　of　CdS,　which　was　supported　by　the　enhanced　photocurrent,　reduced　photoelectric　impedance,　weakened　fluorescence　intensity,　extended　fluorescence　lifetime　and　lower　overpotential　of　the　hydrogen　evolution　reaction.　A　possible　mechanism　of　photocatalytic　H-2　evolution　over　NixP/CdS　was　proposed,　which　revealed　that　amorphous　NixP　provided　active　sites　and　excellent　electron　transfer　mediators　for　the　photocatalytic　reaction.　This　study　sheds　new　light　on　how　to　design　low-cost,　high-efficiency　composite　materials　towards　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution.