Substituent effects on the electronic structure of siloles

Siloles are attractive building blocks for the design and synthesis of organic semiconductors that exhibit potential applications in light-emitting diodes, solar cells, field-effect transistors, and sensors. Understanding how molecular engineering of the electronic structures can help control the properties of these materials has attracted significant research effort. In the present review we illustrate the current state-of-the-art of the molecular engineering of siloles, especially focusing on the effects of substituents and on the electronic structure of siloles.