We　describe　a　facile　surfactant-assisted　hydrothermal　route　to　synthesize　nitrogen　doped　Mo2C@C　composites　in　the　presence　of　cetyltrimethylammonium　bromide　(CTAB)　as　carbon　source　and　structure　guiding　agent.　The　resulting　Mo2C@C　composites　consist　of　Mo2C　nanocrystals　with　sheet-like　morphology　and　well-dispersed　nitrogen　element　doping.　Controllable　experiments　indicate　that　the　additive　amount　of　CTAB　can　efficiently　tune　porous　structure　and　electrochemical　activity　of　the　as-prepared　Mo2C@C　materials.　This　unique　nitrogen　doped　Mo2C@C　composite　provides　several　advantages　for　electrocatalytic　applications:　(1)　nitrogen　doped　carbons　can　prevent　the　aggregation　of　Mo2C　nanocrystals　and　render　it　high　conductivity;　(2)　the　homogeneous　dispersion　of　Mo2C　nanocrystals　provides　abundant　active　sites;　(3)　2D　morphology,　the　hierarchical　porosity,　and　high　surface　areas　allow　large　exposed　field　of　active　sites　and　facilitate　mass　transfer.　As　a　result,　the　nitrogen　doped　Mo2C@C　composites　deliver　superior　HER　electrocatalytic　activities　with　a　low　overpotential　of　only　100　mV　and　also　a　low　Tafel　slope　of　53　mV/dec　in　alkaline　condition.　Such　CTAB-assisted　strategy　may　open　up　an　opportunity　towards　synthesis　of　low　cost　and　high　performance　Mo-based　electrocatalysts　for　various　applications,　such　as　water　splitting.　(C)　2018　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.