The　low-cost　and　environmentally　benign　elemental　red　phosphorus　(　RP)　is　a　new　class　of　photocatalysts　with　tunable　bandgaps　(ca.　1.5-2.4　eV)　and　has　a　strong　visible-light　response.　It　has　been　considered　as　a　promising　metal-free　photocatalyst　for　solving　the　energy　crisis　and　environmental　problems.　Unfortunately,　due　to　the　low-charge　carrier　mobility,　and　serve　charge　trapping　effects,　its　photocatalytic　activity　is　still　restricted　in　comparison　with　the　traditional　compound　photocatalysts.　Considerable　efforts,　such　as　morphology　modification,　cocatalysts　addition,　heterostructure　construction,　charge　trapping　mitigation,　have　been　conducted　to　improve　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　RP　photocatalysts.　In　this　review,　the　physical　and　chemical　properties　and　the　synthetic　strategies　of　the　RP　photocatalysts　were　summarized　along　with　the　application　in　environmental　remediation　accompanied　by　the　photocatalytic　reaction　mechanism.　Finally,　an　overview　and　outlook　on　the　problems　and　future　avenues　in　designing　and　constructing　advanced　RP　photocatalysts　were　also　proposed.　(C)　2021　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.