Hydrogen energy is an important direction to promote the low-carbon transformation of fossil energy under " double carbon ".Dark fermentation of microorganisms is an effective way to achieve green hydrogen conversion of biomass. Among them, the use of metal nanoparticles ( MNPs ) with quantum size effect, large specific surface area and high conductivity to optimize dark fermentation hydrogen production technology is a research hotspot in recent years. The mechanism, technical difficulties and hydrogen production effects of adding MNPs to optimize the performance of hydrogen production by dark fermentation at home and abroad are reviewed and commented. The effects of three popular MNPs optimization strategies of iron, nickel and zinc on improving the activity of hydrogenase system, enhancing the metabolic hydrogen production pathway and optimizing the microbial community structure are emphatically expounded and compared. The research directions and application prospects of dark fermentation hydrogen production are prospected, such as optimizing the activity of hydrogenase by MNPs, broadening the substrate of biomass fermentation, screening and reactor design of hydrogen-producing bacteria, and developing biomass fermentation technology.