NOVELTY - The method of manufacturing a moisture resistive photovoltaic module or solar cell (40), comprises forming a solar cell circuit by electrically interconnecting the solar cells using interconnects, forming a surface preparation layer that provides a smooth surface as an active region surface smoothness of a front illuminated conductive surface (42) over terminal structure of each of the solar cells without extending the surface preparation layer over the active region, and forming a moisture barrier layer over the active region and the surface preparation layer of each of the solar cells.    USE - The method is useful for manufacturing a moisture resistive photovoltaic module or solar cell.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of economically manufacturing the environmentally stable, physically well-protected, lightweight, flexible and moisture resistive photovoltaic module or solar cells with higher voltage and/or current ratings.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method of manufacturing a moisture resistive photovoltaic module or solar cell (40), comprises forming a solar cell circuit by electrically interconnecting the solar cells using interconnects, forming a surface preparation layer that provides a smooth surface as an active region surface smoothness of a front illuminated conductive surface (42) over terminal structure of each of the solar cells without extending the surface preparation layer over the active region, forming a moisture barrier layer over the active region and the surface preparation layer of each of the solar cells, and encapsulating the solar cell circuit in a protective package. Each solar cell has a back conductive surface, and front illuminated conductive surface that includes an active region, a contacting region and a moisture barrier film, where a terminal layer that is conductive is disposed over the contacting region. A first end of each interconnect is attached to a portion of the terminal layer of each of the solar cells to form terminal structure for each of the solar cells. The terminal layer comprises busbars and fingers, and the first end of conductor is attached to the busbars. The surface preparation layer covers the first end of the conductor of each of the solar cells, is disposed over the fingers and the busbars, and comprises a paint material, an organic resist material and a thermoplastic material. Each of the fingers is thinner in width than the busbars. The step of forming the moisture barrier layer comprises a chemical vapor deposition process such as an atomic layer deposition process. A thickness of the surface preparation layer is 5-100 micrometers. The interconnects are copper ribbons. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a moisture resistive photovoltaic module or solar cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows solar cells first coated with a transparent moisture barrier layer and then integrated into a circuit.    Solar cells (40)    Transparent moisture barrier material layer (41)    Front illuminated conductive surface (42)    Back surface (43)    Connection points. (45)