Benzobisthiadiazoles: From structure to function

Benzobisthiadiazole has been widely applied as a classic molecular backbone in the construction of various near-infrared fluorescent materials due to its excellent photostability, thermostability, far fluorescence emission, large stoke shifts, and adjustable structures. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of benzobisthiadiazole-based fluorescent dyes on organic semiconductors and biomaterials and discuss in detail the relationship between molecular structures (e.g. functional groups, conjugation, shielding unit, etc.) and properties (e.g. UV-Vis absorption, emission, band gap, Stokes shift, quantum yields, semiconductor property, bioimaging performance, etc.). A thorough understanding of these properties and related mechanisms is pertinent for the molecular design of novel benzobisthiadiazoles. It will be helpful for the molecular design of novel benzobisthiadiazoles.