The science and technique of nanoscale materials have been focased on the important potential applications, such as electricity, optics, chemistry industry, ceramic, medicine and so on. The porous anodic aluminum oxide film has received significant attention due to its application in the preparation of one-dementional nanostructured materials. This process involves synthesizing desired materials within the pores of the porous anodic aluminum oxide film. The structural features and pore formation theories of porous aluminum oxide templates have been reviewed. The recent progress in the fabrication of the nano-scale materials, such as conductive polymers, metals, semiconductors, composites and carbon tube, using the anodic aluminum oxide film as the template, is also concerned. The importance of porous alumina template for the synthesis of novel nanomaterials has been exhibited.