Array Of Monolithically Integrated Thin Film Photovoltaic Cells And Associated Methods

A process of forming an array of monolithically integrated thin film photovoltaic cells from a stack of thin film layers formed on an insulating substrate, the stack of thin film layers including a first electrical contact layer formed on the substrate, a photovoltaic stack formed on the first electrical contact layer, and a second electrical contact layer formed on the photovoltaic stack, the process comprising:

• forming at least one second electrical contact layer isolation scribe in the stack of thin film layers, each instance of the at least one second electrical contact layer isolation scribe extending at least through the second electrical contact layer of the stack of thin film layers;
• extending a first portion of the at least one second electrical contact layer isolation scribe to the substrate to form a cell isolation scribe for each instance of the at least one second electrical contact layer isolation scribe;
• disposing insulating ink in each cell isolation scribe and in each instance of the at least one second electrical contact layer isolation scribe;
• after disposing the insulating ink, extending a via scribe from a second portion of each second electrical contact layer isolation scribe, each via scribe extending at least through the insulating ink of a second portion of a respective second electrical contact layer isolation scribe to the first electrical contact layer, the first portion being in a different region of the second electrical contact layer isolation scribe than the second portion;
• disposing conductive ink in each via scribe to form a via;
• and
• disposing conductive ink along the top surface of the stack of thin film layers to form at least one conductive grid, each instance of the at least one conductive grid connecting a respective via to the second electrical contact layer of a photovoltaic cell adjacent thereto.