Solar　thermal　water　evaporation　is　a　clean,　sustainable,　and　energy-saving　approach　to　fresh　water　generation　compared　with　traditional　methods.　Electroplated　coating,　such　as　nickel　black,　have　been　commercialized　in　solar　water　heaters.　Inspired　by　this,　we　developed　a　nanostructured　Ni-NiOx/Ni　foam　(NF)　composed　of　Ni　metal　nanoparticles　and　NiOx　with　defects.　The　Ni-NiOx/NF　exhibited　high　solar　absorbance　due　to　the　plasmonic　effect　of　metal　Ni　nanoparticles　and　defects.　Ni-NiOx/NF　also　showed　a　low　thermal　conductivity,　which　prevented　the　loss　of　thermal　energy　and　thermal　transfer,　which　will　be　beneficial　to　the　generation　of　localized　high　temperatures.　The　as-prepared　Ni-NiOx/NF　can　self-float　on　the　water　surface　without　any　other　materials　owing　to　a　high　contact　angle.　The　average　water　evaporation　rate　of　the　as-prepared　Ni-NiOx/NF　reached　1.41　kg　m(-2)　h(-1)　and　the　average　solar　conversion　efficiency　was　about　94%.　The　best　sample　exhibited　a　water　evaporation　rate　of　1.45　kg　m(-2)　h(-1)　and　96%　solar　conversion　efficiency.　This　report　highlights　potential　semiconductor　materials　as　highly　efficient　solar　water　evaporation　materials.