Recent　developments　on　the　preparation　of　solar　selective　absorbing　coatings　based　on　nanoparticle-dielectric　composite　materials　and　black-colored　transition-metal　oxides　with　spinel　structure　by　sol-gel　method,　and　their　composition　and　structure　features　were　reviewed.　The　existing　problems　were　discussed　and　the　development　prospects　were　expected.　Compared　to　the　coatings　prepared　by　sputtering　technique,　the　coatings　performed　by　the　sol-gel　method　have　almost　equivalent　optical　properties　(i.e.,　solar　absorptance,　α＞0.90　and　thermal　emittance,　ε＜0.10)　and　excellent　thermal　stability　and　humidity　resistance.　Moreover,　the　sol-gel　method　is　simple　in　technology,　does　not　demand　sophisticated　equipments　and　is　easy　to　perform　the　coatings　in　a　large　scale.　However,　it　is　difficult　for　the　sol-gel　method　to　obtain　a　variety　of　coatings　only　via　the　alteration　of　chemical　components　due　to　the　compatibility　among　components　and　the　specificity　in　chemical　reactions.　Therefore,　there　are　only　a　few　materials　for　the　preparation　of　the　solar　selective　absorbing　coatings　by　the　sol-gel　method　so　far.