Abstract: Based on the mechanism of coal spontaneous combustion, the necessary conditions for its occurrence and development, and the influencing factors, the research status, inhibition mechanism, advantages and disadvantages of major coal mine fire-extinguishing materials in Chinese coal mines were expounded and discussed, and divided into physical type, chemical type and physical-chemical synergistic type according to the mechanism of action. In terms of physical activity, coal spontaneous combustion can be inhibited by oxygen isolation and oxygen reduction, heat absorption and temperature reduction. In terms of chemical inhibition, mine fire prevention can be achieved by destroying or reducing the active functional groups and blocking the chain oxidation reaction of free radicals in coal. In terms of physical-chemical synergy, the new composite fire-extinguishing materials combine physical and chemical actions to realize a dual inhibitory effect on coal oxidation and spontaneous combustion. This paper pointed out the shortcomings of the research on mine fire-extinguishing materials, including the faultiness mechanism of fire-extinguishing materials, poor stability of chemical resistance, economic and environmental protection to be improved, and insufficient scope of application. The research direction of fire-extinguishing materials in the future is put forward: based on the mechanism and characteristics of coal spontaneous combustion, theoretical experiments and numerical simulations should be carried out; to improve the resistance properties of fire-extinguishing materials as the core, a new type of directional retardant materials with a physical-chemical synergistic effect should be developed; to improve the economy and environmental protection as the leading, the green, environmentally friendly, low-cost, and simple-processed raw materials should be explored; to expand the scope of application as a guarantee, the best inhibitory effects of "one dose for multiple uses" and "one dose for general use" should be realized.