Photocatalytic hydrogen production using novel noble-metal-free NiMo/CdS photocatalysts with hollow nanospheres structure

•NiMo bimetals were first used as the co-catalysts for hollow spheres of CdS to form a novel NiMo/CdS.•The hydrogen production rate of NiMo/CdS reached up to 2523 µmol/g/h, which is 28 times higher than that of pure CdS.•Co-catalysts composed of NiMo bimetal exhibit a greater co-catalytic effect compared to those composed of platinum.