We construct a new class of two-dimensional (2D) phosphorus allotropes via assembling the previously proposed ultrathin metastable phosphorus nanotube into planar structures in different stacking orientations. Based on first-principle methods, the structures, stabilities and fundamental electronic properties of these new 2D phosphorus allotropes are systematically investigated. Our results show that these 2D van der Waals phosphorene allotropes possess remarkable stabilities due to the strong inter-tube van der Waals interactions, which cause an energy release of about 30-70 meV/atom depending on their stacking details. Most of them are confirmed energetically more favorable than the experimentally viable α-P and β-P. Three of them, showing relatively higher probability to be synthesized in the future, are further confirmed to be dynamically stable semiconductors with strain-tunable band gaps and intrinsic piezoelectricity, which may have potential applications in nano-sized sensors, piezotronics, and energy harvesting in portable electronic nano-devices.

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