In　this　work,　a　series　of　metallic　cobalt-molybdenum　carbide@graphitic　carbon　(CoMo(x:y)-T@GC)　nanocomposites　for　the　electrochemical　hydrogen　evolution　reaction　(HER)　were　synthesized　by　a　sol-gel　method.　In　the　as-prepared　nanocomposites,　beta-Mo2C　and　metallic　Co　coexisted　and　were　encapsulated　by　graphitic　carbon.　The　presence　of　metallic　Co　effectively　enhanced　the　crystallinity　of　beta-Mo2C,　charge　transfer　efficiency　and　electrochemical　active　surface　area　(ECSA),　thus　resulting　in　the　improved　HER　catalytic　activities　of　the　CoMo(x:y)-T@GC　nanocomposites.　The　optimized　electrocatalyst　CoMo(0.5:0.5)-800@GC　required　the　lowest　overpotential　of　similar　to　165　mV　to　deliver　a　current　density　of　10　mA　cm(-2)　in　0.1　M　KOH,　which　was　at　the　forefront　compared　with　recently　reported　Mo2C-based　electrocatalysts.　(C)　2018　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.