Method and materials for the fabrication of current collecting structures for photovoltaic devices

A method for affixing a bus grid structure to a photovoltaic device, said method comprising:

• providing a photovoltaic device having a top, electrically conductive electrode;
• affixing at least one current collecting grid wire to said top electrode;
• providing a bus bar tape comprising a web of an electrically insulating material having opposed first and second faces wherein a layer of an electrically conductive, pressure-sensitive adhesive is disposed upon said first face, and a layer of an electrically resistive, pressure-sensitive adhesive is disposed on said second face;
• affixing said bus bar tape to said photovoltaic device by adhering said layer of an electrically resistive, pressure-sensitive adhesive thereto;
• whereby said bus bar tape defines a bus grid connection zone on said photovoltaic device;
• affixing a portion of said at least one grid wire to said bus bar tape by adhering said portion to said layer of an electrically conductive, pressure-sensitive adhesive;
• providing an electrically conductive bus bar member;
• and
• affixing said bus bar member to said bus bar tape so that said bus bar member is in electrical contact with at least some of said portion of said at least one grid wire, and so that said bus grid member is adhered to said layer of an electrically conductive, pressure-sensitive adhesive.