TiO2　nanotube　arrays　(TiO2　NTAs)　decorated　with　molybdenum　disulfide　quantum　dots　(MoS2　QDs)　were　synthesized　by　a　facile　electrodeposition　method　and　used　as　a　composite　photocatalyst.　MoS2　QDs/TiO2　NTAs　showed　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　compared　with　pristine　TiO2　NTAs　for　solar　light-promoted　H2　evolution　without　adding　any　sacrificial　agents　or　cocatalysts.　The　photocatalytic　activity　was　influenced　by　the　amount　of　MoS2　QDs　coated　on　TiO2　NTAs.　The　optimal　composition　showed　excellent　photocatalytic　activity,　achieving　H2　evolution　rates　of　31.36,　5.29,　and　1.67　μmol　cm−2　h−1　corresponding　to　ultraviolet　(UV,　λ760)　illumination,　respectively.　The　improved　photocatalytic　activity　was　attributed　to　the　decreased　bandgap　and　the　surface　plasmonic　properties　of　MoS2　QDs/TiO2　NTAs,　which　promoted　electron–hole　pair　separation　and　the　absorption　capacity　for　Vis　and　NIR　light.　This　study　presents　a　facile　approach　for　fabricating　MoS2　QDs/TiO2　NTA　heterostructures　for　efficient　photocatalytic　H2　evolution,　which　will　facilitate　the　development　of　designing　new　photocatalysts　for　environment　and　energy　applications.　©　2018　Wiley-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim