The composites of cobalt selenide (CoSe2) wrapping nitrogen self-doped mesoporous graphitic carbon were facilely prepared by hydrothermally wrapping CoSe2 on the carbon material derived from pyrolysis of N-containing zeolitic imidazolate framework. The composites exhibit excellent catalytic activities and durability for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 0.5 M H2SO4. The optimum composite catalyst needs only low overpotential of 159 mV to approach 10 mA/cm(2) and as low as 83 mV/dec of Tafel slope can be obtained. The results are among the most active for HER based on non-noble materials in acidic solution. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.