OBSERVATION OF A PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON-TRANSFER FROM A CONDUCTING POLYMER (MEHPPV) ONTO C60

Evidence for photoinduced electron transfer from the excited state of a conducting polymer onto Buckminsterfullerene, C60, is reported. Photoinduced optical absorption studies demonstrate a different excitation spectrum for the composite compared to the separate components, consistent with photo-excited charge transfer. A photoinduced electron spin resonance signal exhibits signatures of both the conducting polymer cation and the C60 anion. Since the photoluminescence in the conducting polymer is quenched by interaction with C60, the data imply that charge transfer from the excited state occurs on a picosecond time scale.