A series of sulfide-based cocatalysts (MoS 2 , NiS and WS 2 ) decorated ZnIn 2 S 4 photocatalysts have been synthesized via combining hydrothermal method with photodeposition method for photocatalytic dual-functional reaction for furfuryl alcohol conversion and hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation, in which cocatalysts serve as a electrons relay station for facilitating the separation and transfer of charge carriers, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic performance of the binary composites. • Sulfide-based cocatalysts (MoS 2 , NiS and WS 2 ) are decorated onto ZnIn 2 S 4 via photodeposition method. • Photogenerated electrons and holes are simultaneously exploited in a photoredox dual reaction. • A carbon-centered radical is confirmed as the pivotal intermediate in photocatalytic reaction. • Cocatalyst plays a vital role in facilitating the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. Highly efficient photodriven conversion from biomass-derived platform chemicals to value-added chemical feedstocks and clean fuel hydrogen (H 2 ) possesses immense potential to cope with the existing energy and environmental problems. We herein report a facile approach combining hydrothermal method and photodeposition method for fabricating diverse sulfide-based cocatalysts (MoS 2 , NiS and WS 2 ) decorated ZnIn 2 S 4 (ZIS) for simultaneous exploitation of photogenerated electrons and holes, effectively achieving the oxidation of furfuryl alcohol (FOL) cooperative with H 2 evolution in one photoredox cycle. The results show the optimal binary MoS 2 -ZIS composites can obtain almost 7 times yield of products (furfural and H 2 ) as high as that of blank ZIS. Notably, compared with previous reports in literatures, our present MoS 2 -ZIS shows the best performance in this photoredox dual reaction. As a relay station for electrons, cocatalysts facilitate the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers in the composites, therefore prominently improving the photocatalytic performance. We anticipate that th...