Microstructured porous zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film was developed and demonstrated as an electron selective layer for enhancing light scattering and efficiency in inverted organic photovoltaics. High degree of porosity was induced and controlled in the ZnO layer by incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) organic template. Scanning electron microscopy, contact angle and absorption measurements prove that the ZnO: PEG ratio of 4:1 is optimal for the best performance of porous ZnO. Ensuring sufficient pore-filling, the use of porous ZnO leads to a marked improvement in device performance compared to non-porous ZnO, with 35% increase in current density and 30% increase in efficiency. Haze factor studies indicate that the performance improvement can be primarily attributed to the improved light scattering enabled by such a highly porous structure. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America