TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Components: The sorbent comprises an apatite, a clay, or an oxide. The stabilization agent comprises a cementitious material.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The constituent material comprises heavy metal comprising cadmium, a semiconductor absorber layer on a semiconductor window layer, or a cadmium telluride layer on a cadmium sulfide layer. The remediation agent comprises a precipitating agent, a complexing agent, a sorbent, or a stabilization agent. The precipitating agent comprises a material consisting of sulfide, hydroxide, carbonate, phosphate, and silicate, preferably a calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium phosphate, or calcium sulfide. The complexing agent comprises a nitrogen-containing group, a sulfur-containing group, a phosphorus-containing group, an acid, or a carbonyl group, preferably EDTA, cysteine, xanthates, or trimercaptotriazine. The complexing agent includes an ion exchange resin, beads, or membrane. The sorbent comprises a material consisting of zeolites, metal oxides, zero valent iron, carbon, tannin-rich materials, modified natural fibers, or modified synthetic fibers.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The step of forming a hydrophilic material comprises: contacting the hydrophilic material to the constituent material; encapsulating the remediation agent within the hydrophilic material; depositing the hydrophilic material in the laser scribes of a heavy metal; spin coating; placing a free-standing film; placing an extruded film; and dispersing the hydrophilic material throughout an interlayer near a polymer-metal interface. The method further comprises laminating one or more layers, where the photovoltaic module comprises the layers.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The hydrophilic material comprises a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, or a mixture or copolymer including a polymethacrylate and a polyacrylate. The hydrophilic material comprises a resin or a polymer. The polymer comprises aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymers, aminoalkyl acrylate copolymers, methacrylic copolymers, acrylic copolymers, hydroxyalkyl methacrylate copolymers, hydroxyalkyl acrylate copolymers, glycol methacrylate copolymers or glycol acrylate copolymers. The hydrophilic material is part of a base chain of a polymeric adhesive or interlayer material.