For the first time, self-assembled graphene/Ni0.85Se-SnO2 (GNS) microspheres, which are constructed by homogenously distribution of Ni0.85Se-SnO2 nanoparticles wrapped by reduced graphene oxide nano-sheets, have been synthesized by a facile and low-cost hydrothermal method. Due to the rationally designed nanoarchitecture and the high conductivity of SnO2 and graphene, the GNS electrocatalyst delivers excellent performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER): it exhibits a quite low Tafel slope of 35.8 mV dec(-1) and a high cathode current density of 25 mAcm(-2) at overpotential of 290 mV (vs RHE); it shows outstanding long-term stability even after 1000 CV cycles in acid solution. This study elucidates a rational construction design and a facile large-scale synthesis method of non-precious HER electrocatalysts with excellent HER performance to replace Pt-based electrocatalysts. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.