BACKGROUNDThe use of CdS as a catalyst under visible light for hydrogen production has attracted much attention owing to its ability to perform the photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light; the use of noble metals as co-catalysts has been reported as an effective method to increase their efficiency. This work compares the activity of CdS catalysts using different metals as co-catalysts supported on its surface, such as gold, and non-noble metals such as Cu and Ni, enhancing the photocatalytic response. RESULTSThe photodeposition method was used to support Au, Cu and Ni nanoparticles on the CdS to perform the photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen in the presence of visible light. The photodeposition method for these metals produced a mixture of oxidation states for the different metals evaluated (Au, Cu and Ni), being partially oxidized and partially in metallic form. Different metal loadings were analyzed to perform this reaction, the most active material obtained was Ni/CdS (10083 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)) at metal loadings of 1.0% wt.% improving the photoactivity of bare support CdS by a factor of 15. Au and Cu improved the photoactivity of CdS semiconductor by factors of 6 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONSThe presence of metal co-catalysts on CdS nanofibers increased the photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production under visible light. These results show that Ni can be an efficient co-catalyst enhancing the photoactivity of CdS semiconductors at low metal loadings that may overcome the use of noble metals as co-catalysts. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry