Photoinduced energy and electron transfer in a C60–6T–C60 triad

Photoinduced energy and electron transfer in a fullerene-sexithiophene-fullerene (C60-6T-C60) triad in solvents of different polarity is studied using photoinduced absorption (PIA) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The polarity of the solvent has an essential role in the formation and stabilization of a photoinduced charge-separated state. Intramolecular electron transfer is shown to occur in a two-step process, involving singlet-energy transfer prior to charge separation.