Researchers from the Sophia University (SU) and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan have minimised tin-based pervoskite solar cell oxidisation, which affects the efficiency and longevity of the cells, progressing the technology toward commercial viability.
Their study introduces 2-aminobenzothiazole (2-ABZ) into quasi-two-dimensional (q-2D) Ruddlesden–Popper tin perovskites, creating a multifunctional passivation strategy that enhances both photovoltaic performance and device longevity.
2-ABZ is a heteroatom molecule containing nitrogen, carbon, sulfur, and hydrogen, the researchers said.
“Unlike many additives that target a single degradation mechanism, 2-ABZ performed several complementary functions throughout the formation and operation of the perovskite film.”
The researchers propose that the additive functions as a multifunctional molecular stabiliser throughout the entire device architecture, and by regulating crystallisation, reducing trap formation, preventing ion migration, inhibiting tin oxidation, and improving interfacial energy alignment, 2-ABZ addresses several of the intrinsic weaknesses that have limited the efficiency of SnPSCs.
SU Faculty of Scient and Technology Department of Materials and Life Sciences Project Lead Professor Yuko Takeoka said the buildup of 2-ABZ at the interface is crucial for decreasing buried defects in the perovskite layer by creating densely populated nucleation sites at the base of the layer, resulting in the production of a high-quality and stable film.
Stability
Stability of the devices was also found to be significantly enhanced, where surface analysis revealed that 2-ABZ suppressed the oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+, a major degradation pathway for tin perovskites.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy also showed a substantial reduction in oxidised iodine species, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry confirmed that the migration of iodide was greatly inhibited, the researchers said.
“The benefits were reflected in long-term performance tests. Unencapsulated solar cells containing 2-ABZ retained 84.94% of their initial efficiency after 100 days of storage, whereas untreated devices retained only 48.95%.”
“During continuous operation under simulated sunlight, treated devices maintained nearly 89% of their original performance after 10 hours, while control devices degraded rapidly within the first hour. Installing Si-based solar cells requires wide, flat land, but PSCs are lightweight, flexible, and shape-controllable, making them a promising next-generation solar cell. However, ensuring their efficiency and longevity is important to improve their commercial viability.”
Takeoka said the findings form the research showed the way for developing safer lead-free solar cells, which could help expand the use of photovoltaic cells.
The study findings are published in Volume 10, Issue 11 of the Solar RRL journal on June 15, 2026
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