The work aims to summarize the latest research progress in the preparation and application of SiO2/polymer nanocomposite. The advantages and disadvantages in the preparation methods of SiO2/polymer nanocomposites at home and abroad were expounded and summarized respectively from the physical and chemical methods, and the application status of SiO2 was described in detail combined with its characteristics. Among the two methods, the SiO2/polymer nanocomposite prepared by chemical method showed good dispersion, various functions and high performance and the chemical method was currently the most commonly used method. SiO2/polymer nanocomposites had important applications in the fields of multifunctional paint coatings, biomedicine and environment. The preparation method of SiO2/polymer nanocomposites is becoming more and more perfect, but there are still some problems that have not been solved in the process. The application of SiO2/polymer nanocomposites can be further improved and broadened by improving the dispersion of SiO2 particles in polymer materials through chemical grafting and surface modification, which is also one of the important development directions of SiO2 research in the future.