Patent ID: 8772624

Claim:
An assembly for preparing a solar cell module comprising: (i) a first encapsulant layer, (ii) a solar cell layer comprising one or a plurality of electronically interconnected solar cells and having two opposite surfaces, a light-receiving surface and a rear surface, and (iii) an optional second encapsulant layer, wherein: a) said first encapsulant layer has a total thickness of from about 0.1 to about 20 mils; b) said first encapsulant layer is made from an ionomeric composition consisting of one ionomer and optionally one or more additives, wherein said ionomer comprises a finite amount of polymerized residues of an α-olefin and greater than or equal to 18 wt % of polymerized residues of an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid based on the total weight of the ionomer, which is neutralized from about 10% to about 50% with zinc ions, based on the total carboxylic acid content; and c) when said optional second encapsulant layer is present, said first and said second encapsulant layers are laminated to each of said two opposite surfaces of said solar cell layer.