Cost-effective, active and stable electrocatalysts are pivotal to hydrogen production via electrocatalytic water splitting. Here we report on the preparation of novel nanofiber (NF) Ni/Gd2O3/NiO heterostructures by an electrospinning technique. The fabricated materials show high electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with activities of onset potential at 89 mV, which is almost identical to that of platinum. The chemical and electronic properties of materials are successfully optimized in Ni/Gd2O3/NiO coaxial heterostructures; the NiO NF with Gd 3+ enhances remarkably its electrical conductivity and promotes HER reaction kinetics. It offers the distinct advantages of long-term durability and readiness for the integration into producing hydrogen via HER, affording better performance than benchmark Pt catalysts. The 2 successful fabrication of these metal oxides nanofibers and nanostructures may pave a new path for rational synthesis of efficient HER catalysts.