The photocatalytic water splitting strategy is one of the most promising ways to achieve clean and renewable solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion. In this study, a highly enhanced photocatalytic H-2 production system has been achieved, using CdS nanoparticles (NPs) decorated on prickly Ni3S2 nanowires (NWs) as the light-driven photocatalyst. The photocatalyst was prepared by a co-precipitated method in which spiky Ni NWs were employed as starting material for prickly Ni3S2 NWs. Characterization analysis (XRD, TEM, XPS, etc.) show the high purity of Ni3S2/CdS hybrid structures and the well deposition of CdS NPs on prickly Ni3S2 NWs. Besides, the as synthesized Ni3S2/CdS photocatalyst exhibit reduced photoluminescence peak intensity, which means the Ni3S2 NWs functions as electron collector and transporter to quench the photoluminescence of CdS. This prickly Ni3S2/CdS nanocomposite demonstrates a 70 times higher H-2 production rate than that of pure CdS and a quantum efficiency of 12.3% at the wavelength of 400 nm in the absence of noble metals. This enhanced H-2 production activity is better than the one of CdS loaded with 0.5 wt% Pt. Our findings highlight the potential application of Ni3S2/CdS hybrid structures for visible light photocatalytic hydrogen yielding in the energy conversion field. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.