Inorganic　quantum　dots　(QDs)　have　been　introduced　onto　the　exterior　surface　of　hollow　carbon　nitride　spheres　(HCNS)　to　construct　an　inorganic-polymeric　curved　heterostructure　for　solar　energy　conversion.　This　hybrid　nanoheterostructure　cooperates　well　with　cofactors　to　achieve　efficient　hydrogen　evolution　under　visible　light　illumination.　The　enhanced　photocatalytic　performance　of　the　heterostructure　can　be　attributed　to　the　unique　three-dimensional　(3D)　hollow　architectural　framework　of　HCNS　as　a　polymeric　scaffold　to　form　intimate　interfacial　contact　with　the　QDs　by　a　self-assembly　strategy　to　facilitate　surface　kinetics　of　charge　separation　and　mass　transfer.　Such　inorganic-polymer　hybrid　nanoarchitectures　based　on　controlled　deposition　of　stiff　QDs　onto　the　flexible　HCNS　surface　provide　a　valuable　platform　for　constructing　stable　photoredox　systems　for　solar-to-chemical　conversion.　This　result　promises　the　great　potentials　of　biostructurally-mimic　hollow　soft　semiconductors　in　developing　photofunctional　architectures,　with　an　ample　choice　of　secondary　guest　species　to　selectively　engineer　the　interface　physicochemistry　of　the　hollow　sphere　for　solar　application.　©　2015　Elsevier　B.V.