Pathogens　pose　a　serious　challenge　to　environmental　sanitation　and　a　threat　to　public　health.　The　frequent　use　of　chemicals　for　sterilization　in　recent　years　has　not　only　caused　secondary　damage　to　the　environment　but　also　increased　pathogen　resistance　to　drugs,　which　further　threatens　public　health.　To　address　this　issue,　the　use　of　non-chemical　antibacterial　means　has　become　a　new　trend　for　environmental　disinfection.　In　this　study,　we　developed　red　phosphorus　nanoparticles　(RPNPs),　a　safe　and　degradable　photosensitive　material　with　good　photocatalytic　and　photothermal　properties.　The　red　phosphorus　nanoparticles　were　prepared　using　a　template　method　and　ultrasonication.　Under　the　irradiation　of　simulated　sunlight　for　20　min,　the　RPNPs　exhibited　an　efficiency　of　99.98　%　in　killing　Staphylococcus　aureus　due　to　their　excellent　photocatalytic　and　photothermal　abilities.　Transmission　electron　microscopy　and　ultraviolet-visible　spectroscopy　revealed　that　the　RPNPs　exhibited　degradability　within　eight　weeks.　Both　the　RPNPs　and　their　degradation　products　were　nontoxic　to　fibroblast　cells.　Therefore,　such　RPNPs　are　expected　to　be　used　as　a　new　type　of　low-cost,　efficient,　degradable,　biocompatible,　and　eco-friendly　photosensitive　material　for　environmental　disinfection.　(C)　2021　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd　on　behalf　of　The　editorial　office　of　Journal　of　Materials　Science　&　Technology.