Method for producing photovoltaic device and photovoltaic device

A method of producing a photovoltaic device comprising:

• a plurality of substantially spherical photovoltaic elements, each comprising:
• a spherical first semiconductor;
• a second semiconductor layer covering the surface of the first semiconductor, the second semiconductor layer having an opening through which a part of the first semiconductor is exposed;
• and an electrode formed on the exposed part of the first semiconductor;
• a support having a plurality of adjacent recesses for receiving said photovoltaic elements one by one on a frontside thereof, each of the recesses having an aperture in a bottom thereof, the aperture being smaller than each of said photovoltaic elements, said support serving as a second conductor layer that is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layers of the respective photovoltaic elements disposed in said recesses,
• each of said photovoltaic elements being fixed to each of said recesses with a conductive adhesive such that the second semiconductor layer thereof is in contact with an edge of said aperture of the recess and that the exposed part of the first semiconductor protrudes through a backside of the support;
• and
• an electrical insulator layer and a first conductor layer that are provided on the backside of the support such that said electrical insulator layer insulates the support from the first conductor layer, said electrical insulator layer having a plurality of through-holes, said first conductor layer being electrically connected to said electrodes of said photovoltaic elements via the through-holes of said electrical insulator layer,
• said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) providing a plurality of substantially spherical photovoltaic elements A1, each comprising a spherical first semiconductor and a second semiconductor layer covering the whole surface of the first semiconductor;
• (b) forming an opening in the second semiconductor layer of each of said photovoltaic elements A1 to expose a part of the first semiconductor, to prepare photovoltaic elements A2;
• (c) forming an electrode on the exposed part of the first semiconductor of each of said photovoltaic elements A2, to prepare photovoltaic elements A3;
• (d) providing said support;
• (e) applying a conductive adhesive to a periphery of each of the apertures of said support;
• (f) disposing said photovoltaic elements A1, A2 or A3 in the recesses of said support such that the second semiconductor layers are in contact with the edges of the apertures of said support, and connecting said second semiconductor layers to said support electrically and physically with said conductive adhesive;
• (g) forming an electrical insulator layer on the backside of said support;
• (h) forming through-holes in said electrical insulator layer, said through-holes serving as conductive paths for interconnecting the electrodes of said photovoltaic elements A3;
• and
• (i) forming a first conductor layer on said electrical insulator layer, said first conductor layer electrically interconnecting the electrodes that are exposed inside said through-holes.