Trapping light in photonic crystals and disordered films can lead to amplification of solar energy conversion in thin and nanostructured solar cells. Photonic effects were investigated in CdSe-sensitized TiO2 inverse opals and photonic glass replicated from polystyrene opals or disordered templates. CdSe films were deposited via SILAR and the absorption was tuned to the red and to the blue of TiO2 inverse opals stop bands. Significant amplification of light energy conversion was observed to the blue of the stop band.  The highest gain was measured at inverse opals with stop bands at 700 nm, 60 nm to the blue of the stop band, relative to similarly sensitized nc-TiO2 films, while a minimal gain was measured at the red edge of an inverse opal stop band. The gain can be attributed to localization of photons to the blue-edge of the stop band possibly coupled with multiple internal scattering at disordered regions.

Enhancing solar energy conversion by trapping light in CdSe-sensitized titania inverse opals

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.