Glass-coated flexible polymeric substrates in photovoltaic cells

A process for making a multi-layer article comprising the steps:

• 1) depositing a glass precursor layer disposed directly onto at least a portion of a surface of a polymeric substrate layer having a thickness of from 10 nm to 1 cm, wherein there are no intervening layers disposed between the glass precursor layer and the surface of the polymeric substrate, and wherein the glass precursor layer comprises:
• a SiO2 precursor, an Al2O3 precursor, a Na2O precursor, a B2O3 precursor and, optionally, a metal oxide precursor and
• b) flash heating for a period of less than 30 seconds the glass precursor layer having a thickness of about 100 nm to about 5 micrometers using a light source, whereby the heating of the glass precursor layer results in localized heating at the polymer surface, and whereby the polymer surface is heated to a temperature of from about 250° C. to about 400° C. for at least one period of less than about 30 seconds.