N,N-bis(4-trifluoromethoxybenzyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylic di-imide was applied to organic semiconductors for bottom-contact thin-film transistors. The carrier mobility was 1.6x10(-2) cm(2) V-1 s(-1), the threshold voltage (V-T) was +5.5 V, and the on/off current ratio was 8.6x10(5). Devices without any further surface treatments were tested in an ambient environment. The threshold voltage shift (Delta V-T) was verified by gate bias stress measurements. A prototype compound, N,N-bis(4-trifluoromethylbenzyl)naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic di-imide, shows direct correlation to the bottom-contact device with the varied molecular structure. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.