The present disclosure discloses a nickel-iron catalytic material, a preparation method thereof, and a use thereof in the hydrogen production through water electrolysis and the preparation of a liquid solar fuel (LSF). The nickel-iron catalytic material is prepared by using a soluble iron salt as a raw material and growing on a modified nickel substrate under mild conditions, and the nickel-iron catalytic material can be used in the industrial alkaline water electrolysis under harsh conditions. The nickel-iron catalytic material includes a nickel metal substrate and a catalytically-active layer with iron and nickel. When used to promote a water splitting reaction, the nickel-iron catalytic material of the present disclosure can reduce the energy consumption per m 3 of hydrogen production through industrial alkaline water electrolysis from 4.4 kWh to 4.01 kWh, thereby increasing the conversion of solar energy to methanol by 9.7%. The nickel-iron catalytic material involves a simple preparation process and low cost, and can easily realize the industrial scale-up preparation. Through this process, solar energy can be converted into a conventional fuel that can be conveniently stored and transported, which provides a new way to solve energy and environmental problems, and brings huge economic and social benefits.