Light management strategies using photonic crystals have been proven to efficiently improve light harvesting and subsequently conversion efficiency of various optoelectronic devices. This study focuses on 3D inverse opal CH3NH3PbI3 photoanodes in perovskite solar cells from a combined numerical and experimental approach. Varying the pore size and the layer thickness in numerical simulations, we first determined theoretical optimum from a purely optical point of view. Corresponding 3D inverse opal photonic nanostructures were then fabricated through spin-coating protocols using polystyrene nanospheres of various diameters as hard templating sacrificial agents. It demonstrates how the photonic nanostructuration of the perovskite layer impacts both optical and electronic properties of experimental samples. Regarding the individual 3D inverse opal perovskite layers, an optimum of light absorption is reached for an ∼500 nm diameter pore photonic nanostructure, with a photonic absorption enhancement as high as 16.1% compared to an unstructured compact benchmark. However, in addition to electronic-related countereffects, local light absorption in the hole transporting material is observed in assembled solar cells, weakening the light management benefits of the perovskite layer nanostructuration to only ∼3% photonic enhancement.

Photonic structuration is an efficient way to improve light harvesting in multiple optoelectronic applications. In this study, photonically structured TiO2 is considered as a photoanode layer for perovskite solar cells to enhance light absorption through the excitation of quasi-guided modes within the photoactive perovskite material, while optimizing the charge collection in the photovoltaic assembly and therefore its global efficiency. Practically, polystyrene beads of various diameters are used as hard templating sacrificial agents for the design of inverse-opal TiO2 through spin-coating protocols. The positive impact of the porous photonic structuration in comparison with compact, unstructured photoactive layers is demonstrated. An optimum of light absorption is shown for hybrid TiO2-perovskite structures composed of ∼400 nm diameter TiO2 hollow spheres filled with CH3NH3PbI3, confirming recent numerical predictions. However, electronic-related countereffects are observed in consecutively assembled solar cells when pore dimensions exceed the estimated diffusion length of electrons in the infiltrated perovskite material. Upper conversion efficiency is obtained with solar cells composed of ∼220 nm diameter large TiO2 pores filled with CH3NH3PbI3.