The　development　of　efficient　and　stable　photocatalysts　is　fundamentally　required　for　sunlight-driven　water　splitting.　Herein,　Ni-P　alloy　is　controllably　anchored　onto　the　surface　of　defect-rich　ZnS　(DR-ZnS)　nanospheres　through　in-situ　photodeposition　strategy.　The　optimized　Ni-P/DR-ZnS　nanocomposite　displays　superior　visible-light　photocatalytic　H2　production　rate　(69.92　μmol　h−1),　which　is　about　29　times　and　3.6　times　higher　than　that　of　the　bare　DR-ZnS　and　1　wt%　Pt/DR-ZnS,　respectively,　and　a　notable　apparent　quantum　yield　of　2.4　%　at　420　nm.　The　existence　of　rich　defects　endows　the　DR-ZnS　with　visible-light　absorption　capability.　The　constructed　Schottky　junction　between　the　Ni-P　alloy　and　DR-ZnS　accelerates　the　transfer　of　photogenerated　electrons　from　DR-ZnS　to　Ni-P,　thus　boosting　the　photocatalytic　performance.　Moreover,　the　charge　transfer　process　and　underlying　photocatalytic　mechanism　are　unravelled　by　multiple　in-depth　characterizations.　This　research　sheds　novel　light　on　rationally　fabricating　high-efficient　and　low-cost　photocatalysts　through　integrating　defect　engineering　and　Schottky　junction　design.　©　2020