A series of Z-scheme CdS-RGO-BiVO4 catalysts were prepared and their photocatalytic activities of hydrogen production were measured in visible light region. The results indicated that the Z-scheme system CdS-RGO-BiVO4 prepared by evaporation & photo reduction method possessed the highest photocatalytic activity of H-2 production. The properties of CdS-RGO-BiVO4 were affected by the loading order of GO, CdS content and CdS morphology. When GO was first combined with CdS, the CdS content was 80 wt% and the morphology of CdS was nanorod, the optimal Z-scheme system of CdS-RGO-BiVO4 was obtained and its photocatalytic activity of H-2 production reached 563.7 mu mol/h. Furthermore, the relationship between the activity and its properties of CdS-RGO-BiVO4 was also discussed. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.