NOVELTY - A solar cell comprises a flexible metallic substrate (100), and a wide bandgap semiconductor film deposited on the conductive substrate. The insulating film is adherent to the substrate.    USE - For generating solar electricity.    ADVANTAGE - The solar cell has greater efficiency and low-cost production.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) a substrate for a photovoltaic cell, comprising a flexible metallic substrate, and a coating of a wide band gap semiconductor deposited on the substrate by physical vapor deposition;    (2) a method of making a thermally stable substrate for monolithic processing, comprising depositing a wide band gap semiconductor film on an area of a thermally stable substrate, the wide band gap semiconductor having a bandgap of greater than or equal to2 eV, by physical vapor deposition, ion assisted physical vapor deposition;    (3) a tandem solar cell comprising a flexible substrate having an adherent wide bandgap semiconductor layer (130); areas of conducting material forming a first electrode (120) deposited over a portion of the wide bandgap semiconductor layer, the conducting material forming an ohmic contact with a first solar cell material; a first solar cell for converting short wavelength portion of the solar spectrum into electron hole pairs, the first cell deposited on the conducting material having a first layer including copper, indium, gallium and selenium and a second layer having gallium and arsenic on the area of insulating material; a buffer layer (140) having a tunneling junction, the buffer layer formed from n and p doped layers including aluminum, gallium, and arsenic on the first solar cell layer and having a bandgap greater that the first solar cell; a second solar cell for converting long wavelength portion of the solar spectrum into electron hole pairs, the second cell having a first layer including aluminum, gallium, arsenic, and a second layer having cadmium and sulfur, the second solar cell layer having a band gap less than the first solar cell; and a conductive transparent electrode covering the second solar cell and forming an ohmic contact with the second cell;    (4) a process for making a thin film tandem solar cell, comprising forming a first solar cell on a conductive electrode formed on an wide bandgap semiconductor layer adhering to a flexible metal substrate; depositing a buffer layer including n and p doped layers and forming a tunneling junction; arsenic on the first solar cell layer, the buffer layer having a bandgap greater that the first solar cell; forming a second solar cell for converting long wavelength portion of the solar spectrum into electron hole pairs; and depositing a conductive transparent electrode on the second solar cell and forming an ohmic contact with the second cell;    (5) a solar cell producing electric current comprising a flexible conductive base, an insulating layer formed on a portion of the flexible conductive base, a conductive layer formed on a portion of the insulating layer, a light-absorption layer above the conductive layer, where the light absorption layer is a semiconductor, and a transparent conductive top electrode; and    (6) a method of manufacturing a solar cell with a flexible conductive base, comprising depositing a wide bandgap semiconductive layer on the flexible conductive base by physical vapor deposition, or ion assisted physical vapor deposition; and forming electrically conductive electrodes on the wide bandgap semiconductive layer.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows photovoltaic solar cells.    Substrate (100)    Electrode (120)    Semiconductor layer (130)    Buffer layer (140)    Metal grid (170)