Photovoltaic device and a method of manufacturing thereof

Abstract

A photovoltaic device includes a substrate on which a plurality of transparent electrodes for each photoelectric conversion cell are arranged. On each transparent electrode, a coupling conductor and a plurality of collecting electrodes connected to the coupling conductor are formed. On the substrate, an insulator layer is further formed, which includes a first portion extending in parallel with the coupling conductor and second portions covering the collecting conductors. A semiconductor photo-active layer and a back electrode are formed in this order so as to cover the respective components previously formed. By irradiating a laser beam onto the respective first portions above the back electrodes, the irradiated part of the back electrode and the semiconductor photo-active layer thereunder are separated into the respective photoelectric conversion cells. By irradiating the laser beam onto the respective second portions above the back electrode, the irradiated part of the back electrode and the semiconductor photo-active layer thereuder are melted, and the back electrode of each photoelectric conversion cell is connected to the adjacent transparent electrode through the coupling conductor.