Solar　reforming　of　methane　has　attracted　a　great　attention　because　this　reaction　can　realize　energy　storage　of　high-temperature　heat　from　concentrated　solar　radiation　and　optimal　utilization　of　resources　of　natural　gas.　Catalytically　active　absorber　has　a　key　role　on　absorption　of　solar　energy　and　reforming　of　methane　and　becomes　focus　of　solar　reforming　of　methane　research.　The　article　introduces　that　the　composition　of　catalytically　active　absorber　and　three　types　of　catalytically　active　absorbers　in　terms　of　their　matrix　(porous　alumina　and　SiC　ceramics,　metal　foam,　ceramic　tubular　array　(nicknamed　＂porcupine＂))　combining　the　developments　of　reactor/receiver.　Applied　in　directly　irradiated　solar　reactor/receiver　(volumetric　reactor/receiver),　the　capability　of　catalytically　active　absorbers　is　mostly　depended　on　the　concentrated　solar　energy　flux,　matrix　element,　catalyst　support　(or　washcoat)　and　active　catalyst.　According　to　the　domestic　and　overseas　researches,　the　future　research　directions　and　emphasis　are　analyzed　and　discussed.　The　future　research　should　not　only　exploit　the　actual　application　system　but　also　resolve　the　problem　of　uniform　coating　and　combining　between　catalyst　support　and　matrix　for　the　high　temperature　reaction　system.　Photocatalytic　enhancement　of　the　reaction　should　also　be　taken　into　consideration,　which　will　help　to　develop　the　cheap　and　efficient　catalyst　system.