Abstract: With high theoretical specific capacity, high safety, low cost, and sufficient raw material sources, aluminum-ion batteries have been regarded as potential alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. However, the shortcomings of the inherent characteristics of the cathode material have greatly limited the further development of aluminum-ion batteries. In this paper, the important role of cathode materials in the application filed of aluminum ion battery was summarized, the mechanism of action and research progress of aluminum ion electrode materials were reviewed, and the effects of various cathode materials such as carbon-based, transition metal oxides and sulfides, organic materials and metal-organic skeletal compounds on the electrochemical performance of aluminum ion batteries were summarize. Finally, the problems that need to be solved urgently in the field of positive electrode materials for aluminum ion batteries are discussed, and the future development direction of positive electrode materials for aluminum ion batteries is proposed.