Inverse opal tungsten trioxide films with mesoporous skeletons: synthesis and photoelectrochemical responses

Inverse opal structured tungsten trioxide (WO3) films with mesoporous morphology were prepared using self-assembled polystyrene (PS) colloid as an organic template and by addition of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) to a precursor as an organic surfactant. The photoelectrochemical properties of these films were investigated. By adjusting the tungsten to PEG weight ratio in the precursor, an inverse opaline WO3 film with a nano-particular skeleton and increased specific surface area was constructed. The unique morphology of this film led to enhanced photoelectrochemical catalytic responses under UV-Visible 1-sun illumination.