  We review the basic optical, electronic, optoelectronic, thermoelectric and
mechanical properties of few-layer black phosphorus (BP), a layered
semiconductor that can be exfoliated from bulk BP, the most stable allotrope of
phosphorus. The distinguishing trait of BP is its highly anisotropic crystal
structure, which leads to strong optical linear dichroism, elliptical
plasmonics energy surfaces, anisotropic electronic and thermal conductivities
and elasticity. We provide tutorial-like discussion of these phenomena and
their theoretical models.
