Development of New Two-Dimensional Small Molecules Based on Benzodifuran for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

Recent Advances of Furan and Its Derivatives Based Semiconductor Materials for Organic Photovoltaics

The state-of-the-art bulk-heterojunction (BHJ)-type organic solar cells (OSCs) have exhibited power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of exceeding 18%. Thereinto, thiophene and its fused-ring derivatives play significant roles in facilitating the development of OSCs due to their excellent semiconducting natures. Furan as thiophene analogue, is a ubiquitous motif in naturally occurring organic compounds. Driven by the advantages of furan, such as less steric hindrance, good solubility, excellent stacking, strong rigidity and fluorescence, biomass derived fractions, more and more research groups focus on the furan-based materials for using in OSCs in the past decade. To systematically understand the developments of furan-based photovoltaic materials, the relationships between the molecular structures, optoelectronic properties, and photovoltaic performances for the furan-based semiconductor materials including single furan, benzofuran, benzodifuran (BDF) (containing thienobenzofuran (TBF)), naphthodifurans (NDF), and polycyclic furan are summarized. Finally, the empirical regularities and perspectives of the development of this kind of new organic semiconductor materials are extracted.

Novel Solid-State Emissive Polymers and Polymeric Blends from a T-Shaped Benzodifuran Scaffold: A Comparative Study

Two novel polyimines were synthesized from a benzodifuran based diamino monomer and two dialdehydes bearing bulky groups and a flexible spacer. The polymers display tuned luminescence performance according to the presence of half-salen groups. The effect of the intramolecular bond on the emission properties were examined. Two model compounds, replicating the same emissive Schiff base cores, were synthetized. From the models, dye-doped blends in the fluorophore/matrix ratio, resembling the polymers, were produced. Amorphous thin films of the covalent polymers and the polymeric blends were obtained by spin-coating technique. The Photoluminescent (PL) response of the different macromolecular systems were qualitatively and quantitatively examined and compared.

Benzodifurans for biomedical applications: BZ4, a selective anti-proliferative and anti-amyloid lead compound

AIM

Our goal is to evaluate benzodifuran-based scaffolds for biomedical applications.

METHODOLOGY

We here explored the anticancer and anti-amyloid activities of a novel compound (BZ4) in comparison with other known benzodifuran analogs, previously studied in our group, and we have explored its ability to interact with different DNA model systems.

RESULTS

BZ4 shows antiproliferative activity on different cancer cells; does not affect noncancerous control cells and alters the aggregation properties of β-amyloid, as ascertained by circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis. An overall, qualitative picture on the mechanistic aspects related to the biological activities is discussed in light of the dynamic light scattering, UV, circular dichroism and fluorescence data, as well as of the metal ion-binding properties of BZ4.

A newly designed isoindigo/thiophene medium-sized molecule containing a π (D–A–D) bridge with unexpected organic photovoltaic performance

A novel medium-sized molecule BT(EDIDT3)2, has been synthesized using a Pd(AcO)₂ catalyzed direct C–H arylation method.

Benzodifuran Derivatives as Potential Antiproliferative Agents: Possible Correlation between Their Bioactivity and Aggregation Properties

To further explore the properties and bioactivity of benzodifurans, three compounds in this class were synthesised and characterised using spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, as well as SEM and thermogravimetric analysis. The synthesised compounds showed interesting antiproliferative activity on different human cancer cells (HeLa, Hep-G2, WM266), whereas no relevant cytotoxic effect was observed on healthy control cells. To study the possible mechanism of action of the benzodifurans, their ability to bind various model DNA systems, their aggregation properties, and their ability to bind biologically relevant metal ions was evaluated. The molecules were found to form monodisperse nanoaggregates stable at physiological temperature, which are likely related to the observed bioactivity.

Syntheses of dibenzo[d,d']benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b']difuran derivatives and their application to organic field-effect transistors

Ladder-type π-conjugated compounds containing a benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b']difuran skeleton, such as dibenzo[d,d']benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b']difuran (syn-DBBDF) and dinaphtho[2,3-d:2',3'-d']benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b']difuran (syn-DNBDF) were synthesized. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were revealed by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were fabricated with these compounds as organic semiconductors, and their semiconducting properties were evaluated. OFETs with syn-DBBDF and syn-DNBDF showed typical p-type characteristics with hole mobilities of <1.5 × 10(-3) cm(2)·V(-1)·s(-1) and <1.0 × 10(-1) cm(2)·V(-1)·s(-1), respectively.

Optimization and diagnostic of nonlinear optical features of π-conjugated benzodifuran-based derivatives

Optical and nonlinear optical properties of benzodifuran-based derivatives obtained by a green approach were studied.

Improve the photovoltaic performance of new quinoxaline-based conjugated polymers from the view of conjugated length and steric hindrance

An improved photovoltaic performance of quinoxaline-based polymer solar cells was obtained from the view of conjugated length and steric hindrance.

Synthesis, characterization and photovoltaic properties of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-bridged molecules

Four benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT) centred small molecules with different acceptor and end-capping groups were synthesized as the donor materials for organic solar cells.