A Mini-Review: Intermolecular interactions of small molecules containing amide groups- based organic semiconductors and their applications†

• This mini-review focus on the influence of H-bonding on the intermolecular interaction between molecules. • The well-organized small molecules through H-bonding were also reported. • The improvement of intermolecular interaction between molecules via H-bonding can promote the self-assembly processes of these conjugated materials into well-organized structures. • Hydrogen-bonded small molecules-based conjugated semiconductors significantly enhanced charge carrier mobilities. • The cleavable protecting groups were introduced to ensure solubility and be easily removed to generate H-bonding. Research about small molecules-based optoelectronic devices revealed the way to improve the device performance by increasing the conjugation length in organic semiconductors to extend molecular ordering and the intermolecular interactions between molecules via hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen-bonded networks based on organic materials containing amide groups can form hydrogen bonding between the neighborhood molecules. However, solubility is one of the problems that need to be solved to apply these materials for fabrication devices and easy recovery of hydrogen bonding to enhance intermolecular interaction between molecules. The cleavable protecting groups are used due to easy elimination during the thermal or solvent-vapor thermal annealing process. This review outlines the advances of small molecules-based fabricated organic electronics using hydrogen bonding. The intermolecular interaction of organic semiconductors before and after the formation of hydrogen bonding is discussed. In addition, the relationship between hydrogen-bonded organic materials and their optoelectronic properties; as well as the device performances are reviewed