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Schematic diagram of the photothermal and photocatalytic performance of novel RPNPs for rapid sterilization under visible light. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]