In this study, a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of optical absorption properties of indium sulfi de (In 2 S 3 ) nanostructure arrays in different shapes are presented. Zigzags, springs, screws, tilted rods, and vertical rods of In 2 S 3 are grown using a glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique. Nanostructured coatings are of similar material volume and porosity, yet with different shapes. Total optical refl ection, transmission, and absorption profi les of In 2 S 3 nanostructures are obtained by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy using an integrating sphere. Measurements reveal that optical absorption of semiconducting nanostructures can strongly depend on their shapes. Under normal incidence of light, 3D geometries such as springs, screws, and vertical rods can provide enhanced absorption compared to zigzags, and tilted rods. Results of fi nite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations predict that spring, screw, and tapered-rod shapes can introduce a uniform distribution of diffracted light intensity and stronger absorption within the nanostructured layer, indicating an enhanced diffuse light scattering and light trapping.Zigzags and tilted rods show a relatively weaker absorption, similar to the experimental results. Experimental and simulation results are also compared to the predictions of effective medium theory. Current effective medium approximations are not suffi cient to explain the high optical absorption of the nanostructures.Adv. Optical Mater. 2013, 1, 158-166 159 wileyonlinelibrary.com

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