The　PM　(particulate　matter)-induced　haze　problem　has　caused　serious　environmental　and　health　concerns.　It　is　still　a　huge　challenge　to　control　PM　pollution　because　of　the　complex　structure,　diverse　sources　and　intricate　evolution　mechanism　of　the　particles.　In　recent　years,　there　has　been　increasing　efforts　to　develop　advanced　strategies　for　PM　treatment.　Herein,　we　wish　to　provide　a　systematic　summary　of　recent　progress　in　air　filtration.　The　review　covers　the　definition　of　PM,　the　characterization　of　PM,　the　mechanism　of　PM　capture,　advanced　purification　materials,　and　special　multifunctional　performances.　As　for　characterizing　PM　particles,　removal　efficiency,　pressure　drop,　flow　rate,　quality　factor　and　optical　transparency　are　the　basic　parameters.　For　the　advanced　filters　with　excellent　filtration　performance,　some　special　properties　such　as　thermal　stability,　antibacterial　property,　flame　retardancy,　recyclability　and　special　wettability　are　in　great　need　under　certain　extreme　conditions.　Finally,　some　future　prospects　for　filtration　materials,　like　material　choice　and　structural　design,　are　also　discussed.