MoSe2/C nanocomposites have been synthesized through a facile surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method. The as-prepared composites are well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), atom force microscope (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. The experimental results manifest that the introduction of sodium dodecyl sulfate brings more abundant active edges for MoSe2 and the glucose provides conductive amorphous carbon materials. Meantime, the steric effect of surfactant and glucose-derived carbon efficiently inhibit MoSe2 layers from stacking to evolve into few-layered structures. As a consequence, the as-prepared MoSe2/C nanocomposites deliver superior electrocatalytic activities towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) originating from their desirable structural features inclusive of limited layers, rich exposed edge sites as well as effective bonding with electroconductive amorphous carbon. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.