Method of forming an electronic article

A method of forming a photovoltaic cell module having a perimeter and comprising a superstrate having a light transmittance of at least 70 percent as determined by UV/Vis spectrophotometry using ASTM E424-71 (2007) (ASTM International, formerly American Society for Testing and Materials), a photovoltaic cell disposed on the superstrate, and a silicone encapsulant disposed as a layer on the photovoltaic cell and sandwiching the photovoltaic cell between the superstrate and the layer of the silicone encapsulant, said method comprising the steps of:

• depositing the curable silicone composition on the photovoltaic cell in a pattern defining at least one passage extending from an interior of the photovoltaic cell module to a perimeter of the photovoltaic cell module;
• and
• laminating the superstrate, the photovoltaic cell, and the curable silicone composition to form the photovoltaic cell module,
• wherein the curable silicone composition has an complex viscosity of from 80,000 to 200,000 cPs at 25° C. as measured at 1 radian per second at 1 to 5% strain, and
• wherein during the step of laminating the curable silicone composition cures to form the silicone encapsulant and air escapes from the interior of the photovoltaic cell module to the perimeter of the photovoltaic cell module through the at least one passage to form a layer of the curable silicone composition and the curable silicone composition cures to form the layer of the silicone encapsulant.