# Impact of Device Architecture on Proton Detection Efficiency in 2D Perovskite Thick Film Detectors

**Authors:** Giulia Napolitano, Sara Cepić, Ilaria Fratelli, Massimo Chiari, Beatrice Fraboni, Laura Basiricò

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/smll.202512236 · Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 2026-01-25

## TL;DR

This paper shows that stacked device architecture improves proton detection efficiency in 2D perovskite films compared to planar designs.

## Contribution

The study introduces stacked device architecture as a novel approach for enhancing proton detection in 2D perovskite thick films.

## Key findings

- Stacked devices show superior charge collection and detection performance compared to planar geometry.
- Stacked detectors exhibit stable and energy-independent response across 3-5 MeV protons.
- Stacked architecture ensures reproducible performance with high morphological uniformity in thin films.

## Abstract

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites have emerged as promising materials for ionizing radiation detection due to their excellent optoelectronic properties, ease of performance tunability, and fabrication onto flexible substrates. In this study, we compare two device architectures, planar and stacked, for the direct detection of 5 MeV protons using thin films of 2D perovskite PEA2PbBr4 (PEA = C6H5C2H4NH3
+). We demonstrate that the stacked configuration, with a vertical electric field across the perovskite layer, enables superior charge collection and significantly enhances detection performance compared to the lateral planar geometry. Proton irradiation experiments conducted over a wide range of fluxes (108–101
0 H+ cm−
2 s−
1) confirm the improved sensitivity, reproducibility, and long‐term operational stability of the stacked devices, particularly for thinner active films where morphological uniformity is higher. Additionally, stacked detectors exhibit a stable and energy‐independent response across the tested energy range (3, 4, and 5 MeV), indicating efficient charge transport and collection mechanisms, irrespective of the proton linear energy transfer. These results emphasize the key role of device geometry and highlight how the stacked configuration is a robust and scalable solution for next‐generation proton dosimeters.

This work shows the role of device architecture in MeV proton detection with 2D perovskite thick (> 1 µm) films. A direct comparison between planar and stacked devices demonstrates that the stacked geometry achieves superior response by enabling more efficient charge collection and better exploitation of the active layer volume, ensuring stable and reproducible performance.

## Full-text entities

- **Chemicals:** Perovskite (MESH:C059910), H (MESH:D006859), C6H5C2H4NH3 (-)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12980477/full.md

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12980477/full.md

## References

67 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12980477/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12980477