Novel photocatalyst incorporating Ni-Co layered double hydroxides with P-doped CdS for enhancing photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen evolution

•Novel II-type heterojunction NiCo-LDH/P-CdS photocatalysts are fabricated by P-doping and NiCo-LDH loading.•P-doping has induced a mid-gap prolonged the life-time of photo-induced electrons.•The heterojunction has promoted the separation efficiency of carriers and reduced light corrosion of CdS.•The rational mechanism was proposed through work function (WF) calculation.