Benzothienobenzothiophene: recent uses as a transistor material and derivatization for adding new features in device functions

Abstract

Over the past two decades, benzothienobenzothiophene (BTBT) derivatives have been widely studied as excellent organic transistor materials. Recent research across various diverse fields has advanced BTBT-based electronics to a new stage of development. This review first outlines the chemical properties of BTBT molecules and introduces representative research on transistors since 2022, including studies on material development and improvements in device manufacturing processes. Subsequently, it presents various applications in other organic electronics such as solar cells, thermoelectric converters, and light-emitting elements, whose properties are mainly based on π-extension, donor–acceptor structures, coordination chemistry, and emerging concepts in light emission such as aggregation-induced emission and thermally activated delayed fluorescence. The review findings can help promote an understanding of the functional potential of BTBT and support the future development of advanced organic materials.