One-dimensional　(1D)　8-hydroxyquinoline　metal　complex　nanomaterials　exhibit　distinctive　characteristics　that　differ　from　those　of　their　bulk　counterparts.　Owing　to　their　small　size,　shape　anisotropy,　unique　structures,　and　novel　properties,　these　organometallic　1D　nanostructures　are　promising　candidates　for　various　devices.　This　review　highlights　current　progress　in　the　synthesis　of　1D　8-hydroxyquinoline　metal　complex　nanomaterials　and　summarizes　their　optoelectronic　properties　and　applications.　The　mainly　synthetic　strategies　are　divided　into　three　categories,　which　include　vapor　phase　growth,　solution　phase　growth,　and　self-assembly.　Special　attention　is　paid　to　the　formation　mechanisms　and　the　control　measures　for　1D　nanostructured　8-hydroxyquinoline　metal　complexes.　Other　new　methods　such　as　template-based　synthesis　and　electrospinning　are　briefly　described.　Merits　and　shortcomings　of　each　synthetic　strategy　are　simply　discussed.　Then,　a　variety　of　optoelectronic　properties　including　luminescence,　field　emission,　charge　transport,　photoconductivity,　and　photo-switching　properties　are　reviewed,　and　their　applications　in　optoelectronic　devices,　field　emission,　and　templates　are　also　surveyed.　In　the　end,　concise　conclusions　are　provided,　and　personal　perspectives　on　future　investigations　of　1D　8-hydroxyquinoline　metal　complex　nanomaterials　are　proposed.