Substrate for photovoltaic devices

Claim 1

In a photovoltaic device of the type comprising: a first electrode; an active semiconductor body electrically communicating with the first electrode, said semiconductor body adapted to generate a flow of electrical current in response to light energy incident thereupon; and a second electrode electrically communicating with the semiconductor body; the improvement comprising: a composite substrate for said device including (1) a relatively thick support layer having at least one substantially planar surface, and (2) a relatively thin, flexible, substantially defect free, electrically insulating layer formed of a synthetic polymeric material disposed atop the planar surface of the support layer, said electrically insulating layer characterized by a textured surface, the textured surface formed by features sized and shaped so as to substantially enhance the absorption of light by the semiconductor body; a light reflective body conformally disposed atop the textured surface of the insulating layer, said light reflective body forming the first electrode; whereby said support layer provides (1) structural support for the electrodes and the semiconductor body of the photovoltaic device, and (2) vertical electrical insulation between the substrate and the first electrode of said photovoltaic device.