Highly　efficient　and　low-cost　electrocatalysts　are　essential　for　producing　hydrogen　through　water　electrolysis.　Here　ternary　compounds　CoMoS4　and　NiMoS4　were　synthesized　by　a　one-step　reaction,　and　further　CoMoS4-H　and　NiMoS4-H　were　obtained　by　heating　the　above　two　samples　under　Ar　atmosphere.　The　above　four　materials　both　show　uniformly　small　irregular　nanoparticles.　Each　element　of　the　four　materials　exhibits　semblable　valence　without　distinct　difference　of　which　S　was　-2,　Mo　was　+6,　Ni　and　Co　were　+2.　We　firstly　use　the　above　ternary　materials　as　advanced　electrocatalysts　for　HER　over　a　wide　pH　range,　of　which　CoMoS4-H　displays　the　best　performance　with　a　low　onset　overpotential　at　8　mV　in　1.0　M　KOH　and　83　mV　in　0.5　M　H2SO4.　NiMoS4-H　also　shows　excellent　performance　with　a　low　onset　overpotential　at　26　mV　in　1.0　M　KOH　and　160　mV　in　0.5　M　H2SO4.　In　1　M　phosphate　buffer　solution,　CoMoS4-H　and　NiMoS4-H　exhibit　onset　overpotential　at　overpotential　of　122　mV　and　152　mV,　respectively.　These　results　indicate　that　the　combination　of　earth-abundant　sulfur,　cobalt　(or　nickel)　and　molybdenum　elements　can　provide　highly　active　electrocatalysts　for　HER　over　a　wide　pH　range.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.