The　development　of　organic　semiconductors　is　of　key　importance　in　order　to　improve　the　performance　of　organic　solar　cells　(OSCs).　Three　indenothiophene　(IT)-containing　small　molecules　(IT3T,　ITFBT　and　IT2FBT)　were　designed　and　synthesized　for　small　molecule　OSCs.　The　thermal,　optical,　and　electrochemical　properties　of　the　molecules　were　investigated.　The　optical　bandgaps　of　the　three　small　molecules　are　ranged　from　1.80　to　2.20　eV　depending　on　different　terminal　groups　flanked　on　the　IT.　We　study　the　photovoltaic　performances　of　the　three　molecules　by　fabricating　OSCs　with　PC71BM　as　an　electron　acceptor.　Among　the　three　molecules,　ITFBF　exhibited　the　best　power　conversion　efficiency　of　4.57%　with　a　high　open　circuit　voltage　(V-OC)　of　0.98　V.　We　also　briefly　discuss　structure-property　guidelines　for　small　molecules　used　for　OSCs.　The　results　demonstrate　that　IT-based　small　molecules　are　promising　for　small　molecule　OSCs　with　large　V(OC)s.