Fast　and　efficient　cleanup　of　high-viscosity　oil　spills　on　the　sea　is　still　a　global　challenge　today.　Traditional　recycling　methods　are　either　energy　demanding　or　inefficient.　Hydrophobic/oleophilic　sorbents　are　promising　candidates　to　handle　oil　spills,　but　they　have　limited　ability　to　recover　high　viscosity　oil.　In　this　work,　we　report　a　superhydrophobic/oleophilic　carbon　nanotubes　(CNT)　and　polypyrrole　(PPy)　coated　melamine　sponge　(m-CNT/PPy@MS).　The　CNT/PPy　coating　enables　the　sponge　to　convert　light　and　electricity　to　heat,　ensuring　that　the　absorbent　can　adapt　to　various　working　environments.　The　rapid　heat　generation　on　the　sponge　surface　can　significantly　reduce　the　viscosity　of　crude　oil　and　accelerate　the　absorption　rate,　thereby　achieving　the　purpose　of　rapid　recovery　of　oil　spills.　Under　one　sun　illumination　(1.0　kW/m2)　and　an　applied　voltage　(8　V),　the　surface　temperature　of　the　m-CNT/PPy@MS　can　reach　118.6　°C.　The　complete　penetration　time　of　oil　droplets　is　93.5%　less　than　that　of　an　unheated　sponge.　In　addition,　under　half　sun　irradiation　intensity　and　11　V,　the　porous　sponge　absorbed　6.92　kg/m2　of　crude　oil　in　the　first　minute,　which　is　about　31　times　as　much　as　that　of　an　unheated　sponge.　Finally,　we　demonstrate　a　continuous　absorption　system,　consisting　of　a　self-heating　m-CNT/PPy@MS　and　peristaltic　pump,　that　can　continuously　recover　oil　spills　on　the　sea　surface.　In　view　of　its　unique　design,　lower　cost　and　fast　oil　absorption　speed,　this　work　provides　a　new　option　to　tackle　large-scale　oil　spill　disasters　on　the　sea　surface.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.