Energetic aluminum powders have been widely used in propellants and explosives. However， aluminum powders usually suffer from the drawbacks of aggregation and spontaneous oxidation， which lead to decrease in energy density and burning rate and increase in ignition temperature. Developing energetic performances of aluminum powders by various surface modification technologies according to practical demands is an international hot research topic. Herein， the materials used for surface modification of aluminum powders， including energetic materials， fluoropolymers， metallic oxide， inert polymers， low-molecular-weight organics and elementary substance， were reviewed based on the corresponding reaction mechanisms during energy release. The application scenarios of different modification methods were introduced and the development trends were prospected. Further improving and even controlling the performance of composites of fluoropolymers modified aluminum powders with metal oxides and energetic materials etc. will be a key research direction in the future.