Thermal　barrier　coatings　(TBCs)　can　effectively　protect　the　alloy　substrate　of　hot　components　in　aeroengines　or　land-based　gas　turbines　by　the　thermal　insulation　and　corrosion/erosion　resistance　of　the　ceramic　top　coat.　However,　the　continuous　pursuit　of　a　higher　operating　temperature　leads　to　degradation,　delamination,　and　premature　failure　of　the　top　coat.　Both　new　ceramic　materials　and　new　coating　structures　must　be　developed　to　meet　the　demand　for　future　advanced　TBC　systems.　In　this　paper,　the　latest　progress　of　some　new　ceramic　materials　is　first　reviewed.　Then,　a　comprehensive　spalling　mechanism　of　the　ceramic　top　coat　is　summarized　to　understand　the　dependence　of　lifetime　on　various　factors　such　as　oxidation　scale　growth,　ceramic　sintering,　erosion,　and　calcium-magnesium-aluminium-silicate　(CMAS)　molten　salt　corrosion.　Finally,　new　structural　design　methods　for　high-performance　TBCs　are　discussed　from　the　perspectives　of　lamellar,　columnar,　and　nanostructure　inclusions.　The　latest　developments　of　ceramic　top　coat　will　be　presented　in　terms　of　material　selection,　structural　design,　and　failure　mechanism,　and　the　comprehensive　guidance　will　be　provided　for　the　development　of　next-generation　advanced　TBCs　with　higher　temperature　resistance,　better　thermal　insulation,　and　longer　lifetime.