TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The constituent material comprises a heavy metal. The heavy metal comprises cadmium. The constituent material comprises a semiconductor absorber layer on a semiconductor window layer. The constituent material comprises 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 selected from sulfide, hydroxide, carbonate, phosphate, and silicate (preferably 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. The complexing agent includes an ion exchange resin, beads or membrane. The sorbent comprises a material selected from zeolites, metal oxides, zero valent iron, carbon, tannin-rich materials, modified natural fibers, and modified synthetic fibers. The sorbent comprises an apatite, clay or an oxide. The stabilization agent comprises a cementious material. The hydrophilic material is part of a base chain of a polymeric adhesive or interlayer material.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The step of forming a hydrophilic material involves contacting the hydrophilic material to the constituent material; or encapsulating the remediation agent within the hydrophilic material; or depositing the hydrophilic material in the laser scribes of a heavy metal; or spin coating; or placing a free-standing film; or placing an extruded film. In the method, the hydrophilic material is part of a base chain of a polymeric adhesive or interlayer material. The step of forming a hydrophilic material involves dispersing the hydrophilic material throughout an interlayer near a polymer-metal interface. The method further involves laminating at least one layer, where the photovoltaic module comprises the at least one layer.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The complexing agent comprises EDTA, cysteine, xanthates or trimercaptotriazine.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The hydrophilic material comprises a resin or a polymer. The polymer comprises a mixture including any combination of a polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate. The polyvinyl acetate is at least partially hydrolyzed. The hydrophilic material comprises a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and at least partially hydrolyzed vinyl acetate.