Unravelling the major factors in photo-oxidative stability of anthradithiophene derivatives

Acenes are a set of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons commonly employed in opto-electronic devices, despite the fact that they can undergo chemical transformation under illumination which is detrimental to device performance. In this study, a series of anthradithiophenes bearing different substituents is investigated, considering the light absorption, concentration dependence, and reactivity with singlet oxygen to understand trends in photostability. Future molecular design can use these results to design more robust materials e.g. for solar conversion, or conversely more photoreactive materials for sensing applications.