Chen, Jennifer I-Ling2016-09-202016-09-202016-03-282016-09-20http://hdl.handle.net/10315/32288Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are attractive for their inexpensiveness, large-scale fabrication methods, flexibility and semi-transparency. OPVs have lower efficiencies than conventional inorganic semiconductor-based solar cells, and hence methods to enhance light-harvesting properties are sought-after. Photonic crystals are unique nanomaterials that present the ability to enhance light-harvesting properties through electromagnetic field localization and slow photon effect. In this work, three-dimensional photonic crystals were successfully integrated into the active layers of bulk-heterojunction solar cells by fabricating a series of titanium dioxide inverse opals coated with poly(3-hexylthiophene). The optical, morphological, and charge generation properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Transient photoinduced absorption spectroscopy showed enhanced charge generation due to a potential photonic enhancement and the increased interfacial area of the porous structure. This research serves as a proof of concept, where the photonic properties of inverse opals and their high surface area may be exploited with different materials in other solar cell systems.enAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.ChemistryElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2016-09-20Solar cellsBulk heterojunctionPhotonicPhotonic crystalsPhotoinduced absorption spectroscopyHybrid solar cellsAbsorption enhancementSlow photonsBand edge enhancementLight harvestingPolymerInorganicP3HTTiO2