Application of transition metal elements in catalysis has become a research hotspot in recent years. Here, two kinds of transition metal-centered HER electrocatalyst of Co(II)TPP-based coordination compounds and Fe(III)TPP-based coordination compounds are reported. Both of coordination compounds show high photocurrent response and excellent hydrogen evolution activity. The most attraction is that FeTPP-OA/PVP58, FeTPP-PTA/PVP58, FeTPP-OA/PVP1300 and FeTPP-PTA/PVP1300 possess a special surface with a big spine-like cross which is different to the regular pyramid morphology of the other coordination compounds, and these coordination compounds display superior HER performance compare to the other samples. Especially, FeTPP-OA/PVP58 exhibits a low overpotential of 83 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm(-2) and an ultralow Tafel slope of 39 mV dec(-1) which is close to the Pt/C (29 mV dec(-1)). The low charge transfer resistance of 14.4 Omega and high photocurrent of 3 mu A under visible light illumination also reveal the outstanding photoelectrochemical property of FeTPP-OA/PVP58. This work provides a novel insight into the design of transition metal-centered HER electrocatalyst with high- efficiency electrocatalytic activity and low cost. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.