The carbon–carbon triple bond as a tool to design organic semiconductors for photovoltaic applications: an assessment of prospects and challenges

Alkyne-containing organic semiconductors are once again becoming the subject of intense research focus, and recent advances have significantly enhanced their performance in optoelectronics. This Perspective focuses on the results achieved in organic solar cells and offers a critical insight into the architecture-properties-device response of these materials; emphasis is also given to studies investigating the effect of substituting single and/or olefinic C–C bonds for alkyne linkages on photovoltaic properties. In addition, this Perspective discusses the challenges and opportunities in advancing the synthetic strategies to develop π-conjugated alkynes.