journal article·2026-05-13

Mitigating Electrochemical Degradation in CsPbBr 3 Gamma Detectors by Organic and Inorganic Encapsulation

Mustafa Unal, Quoc Vuong Phan, Adnan Mohammad, Anil U. Mane, Indra R. Pandey, Sujita Karki, Tugba Isik, Si Chen, Duck Young Chung, Jeffrey W. Elam, Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces· Volume 18· Issue 18
Publisher page

Abstract

CsPbBr3 perovskite semiconductors have emerged as a leading candidate for next-generation radiation detectors because of their exceptional charge transport properties, defect tolerance, and record-breaking sensitivity and energy resolution. Their long-term stability, however, is hindered by electrode-driven electrochemical decomposition, which is accelerated by moisture- and oxygen-assisted ion migration during operation. Here, we investigated organic and inorganic encapsulation strategies as both environmental barriers and means to suppress interfacial degradation pathways. Atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 provided a conformal passivation layer that blocked environmental ingress, suppressed ionic diffusion, reduced leakage current, enhanced energy resolution, and expanded the operational electric-field window beyond 5 kV cm-1. By contrast, organic encapsulants such as paraffin wax and polystyrene slowed moisture diffusion but did not suppress interfacial reactions, with wax extending stability to over 90 days. These results show that ALD-Al2O3 suppresses dominant interfacial degradation pathways, enabling stable, high-field operation and advancing the practical deployment of CsPbBr3 gamma-ray detectors.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies · Advanced Semiconductor Detectors and Materials · Perovskite Materials and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Materials Science Division

Argonne National Laboratory

Department of Chemistry

Northwestern University

Applied Materials Division

X-ray Science Division

Funding

Basic Energy Sciences · National Nuclear Security Administration

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