Photovoltaic device and manufacturing method of the same

A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of:

• providing a conductive base plate having four side edges;
• forming a photoactive semiconductor layer on one major surface of the conductive base plate;
• and
• forming at least one conductive foil having a higher conductivity than the conductive base along at least one side edge of the non-light receiving surface of the conductive base plate;
• said at least one conductive foil being in electrical contact with the conductive base plate and not in contact with said photoactive semiconductor layer.

A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of:

• providing a conductive base plate having four side edges;
• forming a photoactive semiconductor layer on one major surface of the conductive base plate;
• and
• forming at least one conductive foil having a higher conductivity than the conductive base on a major non-light receiving surface of said conductive base plate, not on the side edges and not in contact with said photoactive semiconductor layer.

A solar cell array comprising a plurality of solar cells wherein each solar cell is comprised of:

• at least a photoactive semiconductor layer formed on the front surface of a conductive base plate;
• at least one back-surface conductive foil having a higher conductivity than said conductive base plate and in electrical contact with the back surface of said conductive base plate;
• at least one front-surface conductive foil having a higher conductivity than said conductive base plate and in electrical contact with collecting electrodes formed on the light-receiving surface of said photoactive semiconductor layer;
• wherein said back-side conductive foil of one solar cell and said front-surface conductive foil of an adjacent cell are electrically connected.