Patent ID: 8314326

Claim:
A photovoltaic device comprising: a substrate; a first electrode overlying the substrate; a second electrode overlying the first electrode; and a first structured material disposed over the first electrode, the first structured material having a planar first surface and an opposing second surface; a second structured material disposed directly over the first structured material; a third structural material disposed directly over the second structured material, the third structural material having a planar third surface and an opposing fourth surface; and an intermixed region provided by the first structured material, the second structured material and the third structured material; wherein the first structured material is disposed such that the planar first surface of the first structured material is in direct contact with an upper surface of the first electrode along the entire upper surface; wherein the interface between the first structured material and second structured material comprises a contact characterized by sintered connections along the interfacial area, and wherein the planar third surface of the third structured material is in direct contact with the second electrode along an entire lower surface of the second electrode.