Regarding　the　limitations　of　using　raw　skeleton　materials,　this　literature　reviewed　the　categories　of　skeletal　materials,　modification　methods,　and　the　mechanisms　of　enhancing　sludge　dewatering.　In　addition,　the　prospects　and　problems　of　their　future　application　in　sludge　deep-dewatering　were　also　discussed.　The　results　showed　that　modified　skeletal　materials　presented　better　physical　and　chemical　properties　which　could　play　vital　roles　with　multiple　functions,　including　mechanical　supporting,　electrical　neutralization,　disruption　of　extracellular　polymeric　substances,　physical　adsorption　and　catalysis,　etc.,　thus　to　promote　deep　dewatering.　In　terms　of　current　state　of　research,　to　realize　the　reduction　and　utilization　of　sludge,　development　of　efficient　and　economical　modification　methods　for　practical　engineering　applications　is　recommended.　©　2023　Chinese　Society　for　Environmental　Sciences.　All　rights　reserved.