A novel visible-light-driven carbon-coated Ni (Ni@C)/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalyst with enhanced photoactivity for hydrogen production was synthesized and characterized for the first time. The resultant Ni@C/TiO2 nanocomposites are composed of nanorods with an average diameter of ca. 10 nm and length in the range of 40-100 nm, and exhibit remarkable photostability in an aqueous suspension by using triethanolamine (TEOA) as a sacrificial reagent. Moreover, a hydrogen generation rate of up to 300 mu mol h (1) over 5 wt% Ni@C/TiO2 without Pt-loading is achieved under visible light (lambda >= 420 nm) irradiation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.