Gas-proof polymer film could protect solar cells from corrosion

MIT researchers have developed a novel polymer film called 2DPA-1 that is extraordinarily impermeable to gases, including nitrogen, helium, argon, oxygen, methane, and sulfur hexafluoride. This two-dimensional polyaramid self-assembles into tightly packed molecular sheets via hydrogen bonding, leaving no gaps for gas molecules to penetrate. The film is only nanometers thick, lightweight, and can be produced in bulk, overcoming scalability challenges faced by graphene, which has similar impermeability but is difficult to manufacture in large areas. Tests showed 2DPA-1 performs at least 10,000 times better than other polymers in blocking gas passage. The polymer’s exceptional barrier properties have significant practical implications, particularly for protecting sensitive materials like perovskite solar cells, whose lifespan was extended from days to weeks with a thin 60-nanometer coating of 2DPA-1. Beyond solar technology, the film could protect infrastructure exposed to the elements—such as bridges,