Ultrathin　small　MoS2　nanosheets　exhibit　a　higher　electrocatalytic　activity　for　the　hydrogen　evolution　reaction.　However,　strong　interactions　between　MoS2　layers　may　result　in　aggregation;　together　with　the　low　conductivity　of　MoS2,　this　may　lower　its　electrocatalytic　activity.　In　this　paper　we　present　a　method　that　we　developed　to　directly　produce　solid　S,　N　co-doped　carbon　(SNC)　with　a　graphite　structure　and　multiple　surface　groups　through　a　hydrothermal　route.　When　Na2MoO4　was　added　to　the　reaction,　polymolybdate　could　be　anchored　into　the　carbon　materials　via　a　chemical　interaction　that　helps　polymolybdate　disperse　uniformly　into　the　SNC.　After　a　high　temperature　treatment,　polymolybdate　transformed　into　MoS2　at　800　degrees　C　for　6　h　in　a　N-2　atmosphere　at　a　heating　rate　of　5　degrees　C/min,　owing　to　S2-　being　released　from　the　SNC　during　the　treatment　(denoted　as　MoS2/SNC-800-6h).　The　SNC　effectively　prevents　MoS2　from　aggregating　into　large　particles,　and　we　successfully　prepared　highly　dispersed　MoS2　in　the　SNC　matrix.　Electrochemical　characterizations　indicate　that　MoS2/SNC-900-12h　exhibits　a　low　onset　potential　of　115　mV　and　a　low　overpotential　of　237　mV　at　a　current　density　of　10　mA/cm(2).　Furthermore,　MoS2/SNC-900-12h　also　had　an　excellent　stability　with　only　similar　to　2.6%　decay　at　a　current　density　of　10　mA/cm(2)　after　5000　test　cycles.　(C)　2017,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.