Formation of solar cells with conductive barrier layers and foil substrates

A method for forming an absorber layer of a photovoltaic device, comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive metallized polymer foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive back electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer, wherein the at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer prevents chemical interaction between the at least one electrically conductive metallized polymer foil substrate and the at least one electrically conductive back electrode layer;
• and
• forming an absorber layer on the substrate;
• forming a window layer above the absorber layer;
• forming at least one transparent conducting electrode above the window layer;
• laminating an insulating layer and a backplane to an underside of the substrate, wherein the insulating layer electrically separates the backplane from the substrate;
• forming a plurality of electrical connections configured to electrically couple the at least one transparent conducting electrode to the backplane.