A method, comprising: forming a first multilayer device on a substrate, the first multilayer device comprising a first electrically conductive layer and a photoactive layer, the first electrically conductive layer being between the photoactive layer and the substrate; after forming the first multilayer device, treating the first electrically conductive layer to form a plurality of bottom electrodes, thereby converting the first multilayer device into a first photovoltaic cell; forming a second multilayer device on the substrate before treating first electrically conductive layer, in which the second multilayer device comprises a first electrically conductive layer and a photoactive layer, the first electrically conductive layers of the first and second multilayer devices are the same layer, and treating the first electrically conductive layer converts the second multilayer device into a second photovoltaic cell, wherein each of the first and second multilayer devices further comprises a second electrically conductive layer forming a top electrode, wherein treating the first electrically conducting layer forms a cavity in the first electrically conductive layer between the first and second multilayer devices to completely separate the first and second multilayer devices to form first and second discrete photovoltaic cells which are electrically isolated from each other, further comprising disposing a first insulator on the side of the first multilayer device between the first and the second multilayer devices before treating the first electrically conductive layer, further comprising disposing a second insulator after treating the first electrically conductive layer, wherein at least a portion of the second insulator is disposed in the cavity, and further comprising disposing an electrically conductive material over the first and second insulators, thereby electrically connecting the top electrode of the first photovoltaic cell and the bottom electrode of the second photovoltaic cell. forming a first multilayer device on a substrate, the first multilayer device comprising a first electrically conductive layer and a photoactive layer, the first electrically conductive layer being between the photoactive layer and the substrate; after forming the first multilayer device, treating the first electrically conductive layer to form a plurality of bottom electrodes, thereby converting the first multilayer device into a first photovoltaic cell; forming a second multilayer device on the substrate before treating first electrically conductive layer, in which the second multilayer device comprises a first electrically conductive layer and a photoactive layer, the first electrically conductive layers of the first and second multilayer devices are the same layer, and treating the first electrically conductive layer converts the second multilayer device into a second photovoltaic cell, wherein each of the first and second multilayer devices further comprises a second electrically conductive layer forming a top electrode, wherein treating the first electrically conducting layer forms a cavity in the first electrically conductive layer between the first and second multilayer devices to completely separate the first and second multilayer devices to form first and second discrete photovoltaic cells which are electrically isolated from each other, further comprising disposing a first insulator on the side of the first multilayer device between the first and the second multilayer devices before treating the first electrically conductive layer, further comprising disposing a second insulator after treating the first electrically conductive layer, wherein at least a portion of the second insulator is disposed in the cavity, and further comprising disposing an electrically conductive material over the first and second insulators, thereby electrically connecting the top electrode of the first photovoltaic cell and the bottom electrode of the second photovoltaic cell.