Sc3N@Ih-C80 based donor–acceptor conjugate: role of thiophene spacer in promoting ultrafast excited state charge separation

Light induced charge separation in a newly synthesized triphenylamine–thiophene-Sc3N@Ih-C80 donor–acceptor conjugate and its C60 analog, triphenylamine–thiophene-C60 conjugate is reported, and the significance of the thiophene spacer in promoting electron transfer events is unraveled.