Engineering　semiconductor　materials　with　vacancies　and　co-catalysts　is　a　valid　method　to　improve　their　photocatalytic　performance.　Herein,　we　prepared　S　vacancies-rich　Mn0.3Cd0.7S　nanorods　modified　with　β-Ni(OH)2　nanoparticles　through　solvothermal　and　co-precipitation　strategies.　The　as-obtained　0D/1D　β-Ni(OH)2/Mn0.3Cd0.7S　nanorods　exhibit　excellent　visible-light　H2-production　activity　up　to　71.09　mmol　g−1h−1,　5.23　times　higher　than　pure　Mn0.3Cd0.7S　and　better　than　1　wt%　Pt/Mn0.3Cd0.7S　and　most　reported　MnxCd1−xS-based　catalysts.　The　apparent　quantum　yield　reaches　46.68%　at　λ　=　420　nm.　We　found　that　the　presence　of　S　vacancies　and　β-Ni(OH)2　enhances　the　transfer/separation　of　photogenerated　carriers　and　increases　reaction　sites,　which　is　beneficial　to　photocatalytic　H2-production　reaction.　This　work　proposes　a　new　idea　for　the　application　of　metal　hydroxide　co-catalysts　and　S　vacancies　in　sulfide　materials　for　photocatalytic　H2　production.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.