Three D–A− π–A organic dyes based on 5, 6-difluoro-2, 1, 3-benzothiadiazole (DFBTD) were synthesized by sequential direct arylation and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Compared to 2, 1, 3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) analogue, the presence of two fluorine atoms on DFBTD results not only in a significant increase in the molar absorptivity but also in a blue shift of the onset of the absorption spectra. In the ...