A phenomenon of long lived photoinduced electron transfer from the Pb2+ ions of the glass structure to the incorporated C-60-fullerene has been observed in a group of newly developed (lead, zinc)phosphate glass-(C-60) fullerene composites upon 230-400 nm UV irradiation. Measurements of post irradiation absorption (PIA) and ESR (PIESR) spectra, of two such composites revealed the photogeneration of Pb3+ type of holes and C-60 related anions in the matrix. An analysis of the carrier dynamics suggested that the photogenerated electrons in such systems migrate from the lead hole-sites to the fullerene sites in a tunneling mode. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.