Limited to its peculiar nature, organic coating inevitably suffers from physical and chemical corrosion during service, thus losing protection effect. Shell nacre is a kind of natural organic-inorganic composite material with "brick-and-mortar" layered structure. Because of its special layered structure, the material exhibits excellent mechanical properties and barrier effect, arising extensive research. Firstly, the research progress of the toughening mechanism and preparation methods of "brick-and-mortar" materials was reviewed. Secondly, the research status of nanocomposite coatings was discussed, and the differences of structure and performance between "brick-and-mortar" coatings and traditional composite coatings were compared. The results of discussion showed that the introduction of "brick-and-mortar" layered structure into coating gave full play to the enhancement of mechanical properties and barrier effect of flake fillers, thus improving the resistance of the coating to physical and chemical corrosion damage as well as the protective performance of the coating. Then, the feasibility of preparing "brick-and-mortar" layered coatings by electrophoretic deposition and its application prospect in anti-corrosion coating were discussed by comparing the advantages and disadvantages in the preparation technology of these materials. Finally, the main research contents and proposal of building "brick-and-mortar" layered coatings by electrophoretic deposition were introduced. The research results will present data for the construction of long-term protective coatings.