This article provides a comprehensive review of the use of nanomaterials to modify reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, aiming to enhance their performance and longevity. RO membranes are widely used for water desalination and purification, but they face challenges such as fouling, reduced salt rejection, and decreased water flux over time. To address these issues, researchers have focused on incorporating nanomaterials, including metal oxides, zeolites, and carbon-based materials, into RO membranes. These nanomaterials offer benefits such as improved hydrophilicity, reduced fouling, enhanced structural stability, and increased resistance to chlorine, which can degrade the membrane. The review discusses various synthesis methods and integration techniques for nanomaterials into RO membranes, highlighting their impact on membrane performance. It also explores the underlying mechanisms by which nanomaterials improve RO membrane efficiency, such as through increased surface hydrophilicity, reduced fouling due to surface repulsion and anti-adhesion properties, and enhanced structural stability. The review critically analyzes the challenges and limitations associated with the use of nanomaterials, including issues related to scalability and long-term stability. The article also examines specific nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and their effects on RO membranes. For example, GO enhances membrane hydrophilicity and provides chlorine resistance, while CNTs improve mechanical strength and reduce fouling. MOFs offer high surface area and tunable pore sizes, which can enhance water permeability and salt rejection. The review also discusses the incorporation of inorganic nanomaterials like zeolites, which can improve water flux and salt rejection through their porous structure and ion-exchange capabilities. Overall, the review highlights the potential of nanomaterials to significantly enhance RO membrane performance, offering promising solutions to the challenges faced by traditional membranes. It provides a detailed analysis of the current state of research and identifies future directions for further advancements in nanomaterial-modified RO membranes.This article provides a comprehensive review of the use of nanomaterials to modify reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, aiming to enhance their performance and longevity. RO membranes are widely used for water desalination and purification, but they face challenges such as fouling, reduced salt rejection, and decreased water flux over time. To address these issues, researchers have focused on incorporating nanomaterials, including metal oxides, zeolites, and carbon-based materials, into RO membranes. These nanomaterials offer benefits such as improved hydrophilicity, reduced fouling, enhanced structural stability, and increased resistance to chlorine, which can degrade the membrane. The review discusses various synthesis methods and integration techniques for nanomaterials into RO membranes, highlighting their impact on membrane performance. It also explores the underlying mechanisms by which nanomaterials improve RO membrane efficiency, such as through increased surface hydrophilicity, reduced fouling due to surface repulsion and anti-adhesion properties, and enhanced structural stability. The review critically analyzes the challenges and limitations associated with the use of nanomaterials, including issues related to scalability and long-term stability. The article also examines specific nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and their effects on RO membranes. For example, GO enhances membrane hydrophilicity and provides chlorine resistance, while CNTs improve mechanical strength and reduce fouling. MOFs offer high surface area and tunable pore sizes, which can enhance water permeability and salt rejection. The review also discusses the incorporation of inorganic nanomaterials like zeolites, which can improve water flux and salt rejection through their porous structure and ion-exchange capabilities. Overall, the review highlights the potential of nanomaterials to significantly enhance RO membrane performance, offering promising solutions to the challenges faced by traditional membranes. It provides a detailed analysis of the current state of research and identifies future directions for further advancements in nanomaterial-modified RO membranes.