Abstract: Polyphenols are compounds with abundant phenolic hydroxyl groups which can be widely found in natural plants. Polyphenols can interact with the various materials to form hydrogen bonds, metal coordination and π-π interactions. Over the past few years, polyphenols have been widely applied in material functional modifications. In this paper, the structures and properties of polyphenols, including dopamine, catechol, gallic acid and tannic acid were reviewed. Meanwhile, the modification methods of fiber surface and the applications of fiber reinforced polymer composites were introduced. Finally, a prospective analysis on the future research direction and focus of polyphenol modification studies were provided.