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Oceanic oil spills exert enduring adverse effects on marine ecosystems and human health. In contrast to conventional cleaning methods, advanced oil sorbents present a promising technology characterized by low cost, reduced environmental impact, and exceptional hydrophobicity and oleophilic properties for efficient oil removal from seawater. Despite these advantages, the efficacy of sorbents is hindered by highly viscous oil, impeding the oil/water separation process. To overcome this limitation, solar‐driven sorbents incorporating semiconductor materials are innovatively developed, leveraging increased temperatures to enhance crude oil absorption by reducing viscosity. Herein, a comprehensive review specifically focuses on various semiconductor‐functionalized sorbents for oil spill remediation, elucidating oil weathering and traditional cleaning methods to underscore the complexities and challenges in oil cleaning processes. An in‐depth discussion about the cleaning mechanisms of sorbents and the photothermal conversion processes facilitated by semiconductors is also provided. Additionally, it explores three coupling strategies—Joule heating and solar heating, photothermal effect, and magnetic effect, as well as photothermal and photocatalysis—that offer significant advancements in oil cleanup efficiency. Concluding with forward‐looking insights, the challenges and perspectives for the next generation of ocean oil spill removal technologies are proposed at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tackling water scarcity is a pressing challenge, propelling recent advancements in solar steam generation (SSG). Recently, 3D photoabsorbers have outperformed their 2D counterparts in recovering light and minimizing heat losses, enabling a surge in exploring 3D materials and designs. Herein, 3D structures are fabricated using polydopamine (PDA) functionalized carbonized palm fibers (PDA c‐fiber) to shed light on the degree of improvement in SSG efficiency compared to their 2D counterpart. Specifically, two 3D models, a cone, and a cylindrical cup, are chosen for their inherent features, including a hollow cavity, circular base, and curved surface. These architectural elements play a crucial role in trapping light, facilitating reflections, and efficiently converting solar energy to heat through the photothermal effect. Scaling palm fibers from 2D to 3D significantly boosts SSG efficiency, from 67.9% to 103.7%, with water evaporation rate enhanced from 1.171 kg m−2 h−1 to 1.869 kg m−2 h−1. Substantially, the 3D cup demonstrates superior photothermal performance primarily attributed to its heat recovery feature of the cup wall structure and circular basal area, enabling prolonged light‐to‐heat conversion. These findings provide valuable insights and foundation for developing efficient solar‐driven 3D upcycled photoabsorbers in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]