The　NiS/CQDs　nanocomposite　(CQDs　represents　carbon　quantum　dots),　with　a　mass　ratio　of　NiS/CQDs　to　be　1.19:1　based　on　the　ICP　result,　was　obtained　via　a　facile　hydrothermal　method　from　a　mixture　of　CQDs,　Ni(OAc)(2)　and　Na2S.　The　self-assembly　of　ZnIn2S4　microspheres　on　the　surface　of　NiS/CQDs　was　realized　under　microwave　conditions　to　obtain　a　ternary　NiS/CQDs/ZnIn2S4　nano-composite.　The　as-obtained　NiS/CQDs/ZnIn2S4　nanocomposite　was　fully　characterized,　and　its　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution　under　visible　light　irradiation　was　investigated.　The　ternary　NiS/CQDs/ZnIn2S4　nanocomposite　showed　superior　photocatalytic　activity　for　hydrogen　evolution　than　ternary　CQDs/NiS/ZnIn2S4,　which　was　obtained　by　deposition　of　NiS　in　the　preformed　CQDs/ZnIn2S4.　The　superior　photocatalytic　performance　of　ternary　NiS/CQDs/ZnIn2S4　is　ascribed　to　the　introduction　of　CQDs,　which　act　as　a　bridge　to　promote　the　vectorial　transfer　of　photo-generated　electrons　from　ZnIn2S4　to　NiS.　This　result　suggests　that　the　rational　design　and　fabrication　of　ternary　CQDs-based　systems　are　important　for　the　efficient　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution.　This　study　provides　a　strategy　for　developing　highly　efficient　noble-metal-free　photocatalysts　for　hydrogen　evolution　using　CQDs　as　a　bridge　to　promote　the　charge　transfer　in　the　nanocomposite.　(C)　2019,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.