Ag eneric modular synthetic strategy for the fabrication of as eries of binary-ternary group II-VI and group I-III-VI coupled semiconductor nano-heterostructures is reported. Using Ag 2 Se nanocrystals first as acatalyst and then as sacrificial seeds,f our dual semiconductor heterostructures were designed with similar shapes:C dSe-AgInSe 2 ,C dSeAgGaSe 2 ,Z nSe-AgInSe 2 ,a nd ZnSe-AgGaSe 2 .A mong these, dispersive type-II heterostructures are further explored for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water and these are observed to be superior catalysts than the binary or ternary semi-conductors.D etails of the chemistry of this modular synthesis have been studied and the photophysical processes involved in catalysis are investigated.