Meriting in green and pollution-free combustion products， large specific surface area， insensitive-safety ， large contact area with reactants and easy modification， nanocarbon has been widely focused on tuning the performances of energetic materials （EMs） such as high explosives， propellants and thermites. This work reviews the effects of nanocarbon on the decomposition characteristics， sensitivity， mechanical performances and combustion properties of EMs. In addition， it discloses the progresses in the detection， adsorption and degradation of EMs conducted by nanocarbon. The interaction mechanisms of typical nanocarbon materials （nano-diamond， fullerene， nanocarbon fiber， carbon nanotube and graphene） in EMs have been analyzed. Within this review， issues， challenges and promising research directions existing in the application of nanocarbon in EMs are highlighted and presented. （1） Optimizing the high-cost preparation processes of nano carbon. Easy agglomeration and large batch differences of nanocarbon. （2） Expanding the application scope of nanocarbon. Exploring the effects of new-type nanocarbon such as onion carbon and modified nanocarbon on the properties of energetic materials. （3） According to the specific environment and nanocarbon regulation mechanism， the application conditions of nanocarbon in improving the properties of energetic materials are optimized. It is expected that nanocarbon materials will provide a forum for future advancement in the modifications of multifunctional EMs.