TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The constituent material comprises a heavy metal comprising cadmium; and a semiconductor absorber layer on a semiconductor window layer; and 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 comprising sulfide, hydroxide, carbonate, phosphate or silicate. The precipitating agent comprises 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. The sorbent comprises an apatite, a clay, or an oxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The complexing agent comprises EDTA, cysteine, xanthates, or trimercaptotriazine. The complexing agent includes an ion exchange resin, beads, or membrane. The stabilization agent comprises a cementitious material. Preferred Process: 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 one or more layers.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The hydrophilic material comprises a cellulose-based resin or polymer; a resin; and a polymer. The polymer comprises an alkyl group comprising a methyl, ethyl or propyl. The polymer comprises alkyl cellulose, hydroxyl alkyl cellulose, alkyl hydroxyl alkyl cellulose and/or carboxy alkyl cellulose. The sorbent comprises a material comprising zeolites, metal oxides, zero valent iron, carbon, tannin-rich materials, modified natural fibers, or modified synthetic fibers. The hydrophilic material is part of a base chain of a polymeric adhesive or interlayer material.