Metal　phosphides　(MPs)　with　unique　and　desirable　physicochemical　properties　provide　promising　potential　in　practical　applications,　such　as　the　catalysis,　gas/humidity　sensor,　environmental　remediation,　and　energy　storage　fields,　especially　for　transition　metal　phosphides　(TMPs)　and　MPs　consisting　of　group　IIIA　and　IVA　metal　elements.　Most　studies,　however,　on　the　synthesis　of　MP　nanomaterials　still　face　intractable　challenges,　encompassing　the　need　for　a　more　thorough　understanding　of　the　growth　mechanism,　strategies　for　large-scale　synthesis　of　targeted　high-quality　MPs,　and　practical　achievement　of　functional　applications.　This　review　aims　at　providing　a　comprehensive　update　on　the　controllable　synthetic　strategies　for　MPs　from　various　metal　sources.　Additionally,　different　passivation　strategies　for　engineering　the　structural　and　electronic　properties　of　MP　nanostructures　are　scrutinized.　Then,　we　showcase　the　implementable　applications　of　MP-based　materials　in　emerging　sustainable　catalytic　fields　including　electrocatalysis,　photocatalysis,　mild　thermocatalysis,　and　related　hybrid　systems.　Finally,　we　offer　a　rational　perspective　on　future　opportunities　and　remaining　challenges　for　the　development　of　MPs　in　the　materials　science　and　sustainable　catalysis　fields.　©　2021　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.