Semiconductor　photocatalytic　water　splitting　has　been　considered　as　a　potential　strategy　to　overcome　global　energy　shortage　and　environmental　pollution.　In　recent　years,　phosphorene　(BP)　attracted　great　attention　in　photocatalytic　water　splitting　due　to　its　adjustable　band　gap,　high　hole　mobility　and　wide　absorption　spectrum.　This　review　summarizes　the　recent　significant　advances　on　designing　high-performance　BP-based　photocatalysts　for　water　splitting.　The　synthetic　methods　and　modification　strategies　(e.g.,　surface　modification　and　heterostructure　design)　of　BP-based　photocatalysts　are　described.　Furthermore,　in　order　to　elucidate　the　structure-activity　relationship　of　BP-based　photocatalysts,　the　charge　transfer　mechanism　is　illustrated.　Finally,　the　ongoing　challenges　and　opportunities　for　the　future　development　of　BP-based　photocatalysts　in　the　exciting　research　area　are　highlighted.　©　2020,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.