Ten Years of N-Heteropentacenes as Semiconductors for Organic Thin-Film Transistors

Introducing N atoms to the pentacene backbone leads to N‐heteropentacenes, whose properties can be tuned by changing the number, position and valence state of N atoms in the pentacene backbone. With a rapid development in recent years, N‐heteropentacenes and their derivatives have arisen as a new family of organic semiconductors with high performance in organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs). This article reviews the research efforts of developing N‐heteropentacenes into organic semiconductors starting from 2003 with emphasis on the work of the author's group since 2009. The structure–property relationship and design rationale are highlighted based on an overview of reported organic semiconductors of N‐heteropentacenes. With a rapid development, N‐heteropentacenes and their derivatives have recently arisen as a new family of organic semiconductors with high performance in organic thin‐film transistors. This Research News provides an overview of the efforts to develop N‐heteropentacenes into organic semiconductors starting from 2003, with emphasis on the work of the author's group since 2009, highlighting structure–property relationships and design rationale.