Photovoltaic module

Photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of multijunction photovoltaic cells, at least one of said multijunction photovoltaic cells comprising:

• a first photovoltaic sub-cell extending over a first predetermined area;
• a second photovoltaic sub-cell provided on said first photovoltaic sub-cell and in electrical connection therewith, said second photovoltaic sub-cell extending over a second predetermined area which is smaller than said first predetermined area so as to define at least one zone in which said first photovoltaic sub-cell is uncovered by said second photovoltaic sub-cell;
• an electrically-insulating layer situated upon said first photovoltaic sub-cell in at least a part of said zone;
• and
• an electrically-conductive layer situated upon at least part of said electrically-insulating layer and in electrical connection with a surface of said second photovoltaic sub-cell, wherein at least one of said multijunction photovoltaic cells is electrically connected to at least one other of said multijunction photovoltaic cells by means of at least one electrical interconnector electrically connected to said electrically-conductive layer in said zone.

Method of manufacturing a photovoltaic module, comprising steps of:

• manufacturing a plurality of photovoltaic cells;
• and
• assembling said plurality of photovoltaic cells into said photovoltaic module such that said cells are electrically interconnected by means of at least one interconnector, wherein at least one of said photovoltaic cells is manufactured by:
• forming a first photovoltaic sub-cell;
• forming a second photovoltaic sub-cell on part of a surface of said first photovoltaic sub-cell so as to define a zone in which said second photovoltaic sub-cell is not present;
• forming an insulating layer on the surface of said first photovoltaic sub-cell in at least part of said zone;
• forming an electrically-conductive layer on at least part of said insulating layer, said electrically-conductive layer being in electrical connection with a surface of said second photovoltaic sub-cell;
• and wherein said interconnector is connected to said electrically-conductive layer in said zone.

Method of manufacturing a photovoltaic module, comprising steps of:

• manufacturing a plurality of photovoltaic cells;
• and
• assembling said plurality of photovoltaic cells into a photovoltaic module such that said cells are electrically interconnected by means of at least one interconnector, wherein at least one of said photovoltaic cells is manufactured by:
• forming a first photovoltaic sub-cell;
• forming a second photovoltaic sub-cell on substantially the whole surface of said first photovoltaic sub-cell;
• selectively removing a part of said second photovoltaic sub-cell so as to define a zone in which said second photovoltaic sub-cell is not present;
• forming an insulating layer on the surface of said first photovoltaic sub-cell in at least part of said zone;
• forming an electrically-conductive layer on at least part of said insulating layer, said electrically-conductive layer being in electrical connection with a surface of said second photovoltaic sub-cell;
• and wherein said interconnector is connected to said electrically-conductive layer in said zone.