Development　of　photocatalytic　systems　for　scalable　and　inexpensive　solar　hydrogen　(H2)　requires　non-noble-metal　cocatalysts.　Integration　of　Fe3C　with　1D　metal　sulfide　photo-absorber　highly　improved　the　activity　and　durability　of　photocatalytic　H2　evolution.　Consequently,　the　enhanced　hydrogen　evolution　rate　of　195　μmol　h−1　was　achieved　which　is　15　times　higher　than　that　of　pure　CdS　NRs.　The　apparent　quantum　yield　was　approached　to　11.5　%　under　monochromatic　420　nm　light.　On　the　other　hand,　photocorrosion　of　the　photosensitizer　was　hampered　and　the　system　demonstrated　robust　stability　of　22　h　under　visible　light.　Moreover,　Fe3C　showcased　high　current　density　with　low　overpotential　for　electrocatalytic　HER,　proving　it　feasible　for　H2　evolution.　The　role　of　Fe3C　was　comprehensively　studied　using　electrochemical　studies,　BET　surface　area,　PL　and　TRPL　spectroscopy.　This　work　demonstrated　the　exceptional　potential　of　Fe3C/CdS　NRs　as　a　promising　inexpensive　photocatalyst　with　high　activity　and　stability　for　H2　production　under　visible　light.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.