A CdS/TiO(2) composite photocatalyst consisting of one-dimensional CdS nanowire (NW) with a high crystallinity decorated with nanosized TiO(2) particles (NP) was fabricated by solvothermal method and sol-gel synthesis. The new configuration photocatalyst exhibited higher rate of hydrogen production than that of single CdS NW under visible light irradiation (lambda >= 420 nm) from water containing sulfide and sulfite ions as hole scavengers. Physicochemical properties of CdS NW/TiO(2) NP composite photocatalysts were investigated together with the effect of the mole ratio of TiO(2) and CdS for photocatalytic hydrogen production from water under visible light irradiation. (C) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.