Alkaline　metal　ion　batteries,　such　as　lithium-ion　batteries　have　been　increasingly　adopted　in　consumer　electronics,　electric　vehicles,　and　large　power　grids　because　of　their　high　energy　density,　power　density　and　working　voltage,　and　long　cycle　life.　Phosphorus-based　materials　including　phosphorus　anodes　and　metal　phosphides　with　high　theoretical　capacity,　natural　abundance,　and　environmental　friendliness　show　great　potential　as　negative　electrodes　for　alkaline　metal　ion　batteries.　In　this　review,　based　on　the　understanding　of　the　storage　mechanism　of　alkali　metal　ions,　the　scientific　challenges　are　discussed,　the　preparation　methods　and　solutions　to　address　these　challenges　are　summarized,　the　application　prospects　are　demonstrated,　and　finally　possible　future　research　directions　of　phosphorus-based　materials　are　provided.