Nanofiltration　membranes　are　the　core　elements　for　nanofiltration　process.　The　chemical　structures　and　physical　properties　of　nanofiltration　membranes　determine　water　permeability,　solute　selectivity,　mechanical/thermal　stability,　and　antifouling　properties,　which　greatly　influence　the　separation　efficiency　and　operation　cost　in　nanofiltration　applications.　In　recent　years,　a　great　progress　has　been　made　in　the　development　of　high　performance　nanofiltration　membranes　based　on　nanomaterials.　Considering　the　increasing　interest　in　this　field,　this　paper　reviews　the　recent　studies　on　the　nanofiltration　membranes　comprising　various　nanomaterials,　including　the　metal　and　metal　oxide　nanoparticles,　carbon-based　nanomaterials,　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs),　water　channel　proteins,　and　organic　micro/nanoparticles.　Finally,　a　perspective　is　given　on　the　further　exploitation　of　advanced　nanomaterials　and　novel　strategy　for　fabricating　nano-based　nanofiltration　membranes.　Moreover,　the　development　of　precision　instruments　and　simulation　techniques　is　necessary　for　the　characterization　of　membrane　microstructure　and　investigation　of　the　separation　and　antifouling　mechanism　of　nanofiltration　membranes　prepared　with　nanomaterials.　(C)　2017　The　Chemical　Industry　and　Engineering　Society　of　China,　and　Chemical　Industry　Press.　All　rights　reserved.