Small molecular aryl acetylenes: Chemically tailoring high-efficiency organic semiconductors for solar cells and field-effect transistors

Abstract

Over the last two decades, ever increasing interest has been focused on π-conjugated triple-bond-containing systems, namely, (poly)aryl acetylenes, as a very promising class of semiconducting materials, owing to the availability of flexible/efficient synthetic protocols and the new conception of their conformational and steric advantages. In this review, the major design/synthetic strategies used to obtain molecular aryl acetylene semiconductors are discussed. A brief discussion of their key properties as well as their performance in organic field-effect transistors and photovoltaic cell applications is also included. Small wonder: Impressive results in the development of new π-conjugated triple-bond-containing molecular systems have been achieved (see scheme). Typical examples illustrating the design rationale and synthetic strategies used to obtain small-molecule aryl acetylene semiconductors for applications in field-effect transistors and photovoltaic cells are overviewed. Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.