Synergy of slow photon and chemically amplified photochemistry in platinum nanocluster-loaded inverse titania opals.

We show that the photodegradation efficiency of TiO2 has been amplified 4-fold via the cooperativity of slow photons in photonic crystal and the incorporation of Pt nanoclusters. Various loadings of Pt nanoparticles were photodeposited on the surface of TiO2 inverse opals and the photodegradation of adsorbed acid orange was investigated. While slow photons increased the effective path length of light, Pt nanoparticles extended the lifetimes of the UV-excited electrons and holes. With 2-4 wt % of Pt on the TiO2 inverse opal, we demonstrate a synergistic optical and chemical enhancement for the first time.