Push–pull organic semiconductors with planar indenothiophene bridges for solution-processed small-molecule organic solar cells

Abstract Novel push–pull organic semiconductors, bisDMFA-InTTh-MMN ( 1 ) and bisDMFA-InTTTh-MMN ( 2 ) containing planar and rigid indenothiophene or indenothienothiophene functionalities incorporated into a π-conjugated thiophene bridge were synthesized and the photovoltaic performances in solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells (SMOSCs) were investigated. The planar indenothiophene skeleton induced the effective inter- and intramolecular charge transfers of these materials. The most efficient SMOSCs based on this novel indenothiophene exhibited a moderate PCE of 3.21% from a skeleton comprised of a bisDMFA donor, MMN acceptor, and InTTTh π-linker.