Photovoltaic device having an improved collector grid

A photovoltaic device having an improved charge carrier collection assembly, said device comprising an electrically conductive substrate electrode, an active body of semiconductor material disposed over the electrically conductive substrate electrode and adapted to provide for the photogeneration of charge carriers in response to light energy incident thereupon, a layer of transparent conductive material disposed over at least a portion of said body of semiconductor material to facilitate the collection of said photogenerated charge carriers, and a current collecting grid disposed over said layer of transparent conductive material, the improvement comprising in combination:

• a body of conductive adhesive, having a resistivity in the range of 10,000 to 30,000 ohms per square, operatively disposed between said grid and said layer of transparent conductive oxide, whereby
• said grid is secured to said layer of transparent conductive material at least in part by said body of conductive adhesive and the resistivity of said body of conductive adhesive prevents catastrophic current flow therethrough.