The　development　of　low-cost　and　noble　metal-free　photocatalytic　materials　with　precisely　controlled　morphologies　and　interfaces　is　vital　to　achieving　highly　efficient　solar-to-fuel　conversion.　We　herein　report　the　fabrication　of　novel　metal-organic　framework　(MOF)/g-C　3　N　4　heterostructured　materials　with　well-defined　micro-/nanostructures　and　intimate　interfacial　contact.　Zeolitic　imidazolate　framework-8　(ZIF-8)　nanoparticles　are　found　to　be　evenly　anchored　on　modified　rod-like　g-C　3　N　4　materials.　The　resultant　hybrid　materials　demonstrate　the　integration　of　two　components　and　show　enhanced　light-harvesting　property　in　the　visible　light　region.　ZIF-8/g-C　3　N　4　composite　materials　have　been　employed　as　the　catalysts　for　solar-driven　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution　from　water　splitting.　Under　light　emitting　diode　(LED)　illumination,　ZIF-8/g-C　3　N　4　composite　photocatalysts　exhibit　significant　hydrogen-evolving　performance　in　comparison　to　bulk　ZIF-8　material.　The　enhanced　hydrogen　production　efficiency　can　be　ascribed　to　synergistic　improvements　in　electron-hole　separation,　charge　transportation　and　redox　capability.　This　synthetic　strategy　can　be　extended　to　the　design　and　controllable　synthesis　of　a　variety　of　MOF-based　composite　materials　for　energy　and　environmental　applications.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.