Publication: Boosting perovskite solar cell stability

Mahmoud Nabil, Lidia Contreras-Bernal, Gloria P. Moreno-Martinez, Jose Obrero-Perez, Javier Castillo-Seoane, Juan A. Anta, Gerko Oskam, Paul Pistor, Ana Borrás, Juan R. Sanchez-Valencia, Angel Barranco,
Boosting perovskite solar cell stability: Dual protection with ultrathin plasma polymer passivation layers,
Materials Today Energy,
Volume 54,
2025,
102117,
ISSN 2468-6069,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2025.102117.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468606925003259)
Abstract: Metal halide perovskite solar cells (MHPSCs) hold great promise due to their high efficiency and low fabrication costs, but their long-term stability under environmental conditions remains the main challenge. However, their long-term operational stability under environmental stress remains a critical limitation for commercialization. In this work, we explore a dual passivation strategy using ultrathin adamantane-based plasma polymer (ADA) films, deposited via remote plasma-assisted vacuum deposition (RPAVD), to enhance the environmental stability of MHPSCs. The ADA layers are introduced simultaneously at both the electron transport layer (ETL)/perovskite and perovskite/hole transport layer (HTL) interfaces, offering a conformal, transparent, and thermally stable coating compatible with delicate perovskite films. This approach enables interfacial defect passivation and acts as a protective barrier against moisture and UV-induced degradation. Devices incorporating ADA layers exhibit significantly improved stability under harsh conditions, retaining 80 % of their initial efficiency after 4000 min over extended exposure to humidity and continuous illumination. These results demonstrate the potential of multifunctional plasma-polymer coatings for the scalable and robust fabrication of perovskite solar cells with enhanced durability.
Keywords: Perovskite solar cells; Plasma and vacuum depositions; Ultrathin polymers; Stability; Passivation interfaces