An　efficient　and　robust　bifunctional　catalyst　that　is　comprised　of　tungsten　nitride　quantum　dots　encapsulated　in　ultrathin　graphene　(WN@C)　is　synthesized　by　in　situ　nitridation　reduced　pyrolysis　method.　The　photocatalytic　and　co-catalytic　effects　of　core-shell　WN@C　are　systematically　studied.　After　combining　with　typical　semiconductor　ZnIn2S4,　the　hydrogen　evolution　activity　of　the　optimal　WN@C/ZnIn2S4　composite　exhibits　61　times　larger　than　that　of　ZnIn2S4　and　12　times　than　that　of　WN-QDs@C　under　the　visible　light　illumination　(λ　≥　400　nm).　It　can　continuously　produce　hydrogen　for　99　h　without　apparent　reduction.　The　analysis　and　calculations　suggest　that　the　enhanced　activity　can　be　attributed　to　the　synergistic　effect　of　the　lower　overpotential　of　hydrogen　evolution　reaction　(HER),　the　reduced　apparent　activation　energy　(Ea),　the　decreased　Gibbs　free　energy　of　H　adsorption　(G*H)　and　the　inhibited　recombination　of　photocharges.　This　work　opens　an　avenue　of　the　synthesis　on　quantum　dots　core-shell　structure　with　dual　functions.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.