N-Doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) have been successfully synthesized from the waste of shrimp without additional nitrogen source under mild conditions. The as-synthesized NCQDs with an average diameter of 2.5 am show that fluorescence has excitation-wavelength-dependent capability. NCQDs show strong absorption (200 nm < lambda < 1000 nm) under sunlight which enable it have wide absorption spectrum. Under sunlight irradiation, photocatalyst test proved that NCDQs can evolve hydrogen at different concentration of formic acid (FA). Such low cost and environment friendly material may greatly encourage the application of FA as a hydrogen evolution resource.