Structures, properties and application of benzodithiophene derivatives: A review

Benzodithiophene derivatives represent a category of planar and rigid sulfur-containing heterocyclic molecules that possess a diverse range of applications in the development of organic optoelectronic materials, due to their versatile chemical structures and exceptional optoelectronic properties. Depending on the different connection positions between the benzene ring and thiophene, benzodithiophene can be classified into four constitutional isomers. In particular, benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (BDT) has found extensive utility as fundamental components in various photovoltaic polymers and small molecule materials. This article provides a comprehensive review of the research progress of BDT materials in fields such as organic solar cells, electrochromic devices, organic field-effect transistors, and biomedical imaging, with a specific focus on their performance in organic solar cells. The article explores molecular design strategies, chemical structures, and photovoltaic performance of these materials, providing valuable insights for the design and synthesis of novel BDT-based derivatives with enhanced performance and stability in the future.