Black　phosphorene　(BP)　is　a　metal-free　two-dimensional　photocatalyst　with　potential　for　visible-light-driven　photocatalytic　H2　evolution.　However,　its　inert　basal　plane　toward　the　HER　hinders　its　practical　application.　To　overcome　this　problem,　we　design　a　novel　nonprecious　metal-nonmetal　co-doping　method　of　BP　to　activate　its　inert　basal　plane　and　improve　photocatalytic　HER　performance.　Through　density　functional　theory　(DFT)　calculations,　we　systematically　investigate　the　photocatalytic　performance　of　nonprecious　metal　and　nonmetal　co-doped　BPs.　Our　results　show　that　V-N　co-doped　BP　exhibits　excellent　thermodynamic　stability,　suitable　band　structure,　improved　carrier　separation,　superior　adsorption　and　dissociation　energies　and　enhanced　visible-light　absorption　coefficient.　Importantly,　V-N　co-doping　successfully　activates　the　inert　basal　plane　of　BP,　allowing　it　to　drive　the　HER　under　illumination　(ΔGH　=　−0.12　eV).　This　study　highlights　the　potential　of　nonprecious　metal-nonmetal　co-doping　to　enhance　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　BP,　providing　invaluable　insights　for　advancing　the　field　of　co-doped　BP　in　photocatalysis.　©　2024　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.