TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Component: The ACPF comprises alkali metal containing material selected from soda lime C glass flake, soda lime glass fiber, alkali silicate, and/or rectangular ribbons of soda lime glass composition.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The PV device further comprises a photovoltaic absorber of light energy, where absorber is copper indium selenide or preferably CIGS absorber comprising amounts of sodium that yield secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) counts per second of 2x 103-up to 5x 104, preferably 1x 105 to greater than or equal to 5x 105. The absorber layer comprises absorber medium whose composition and resulting solar energy conversion efficiency is positively affected by the presence of sodium as dopant for enhancement of hole carrier concentration and improved open circuit voltage.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Component: The alkali metal is sodium. It is in a form comprising soda lime glass ribbon or flake, woven glass fabric, and glass microspheres and/or powder. It comprises alkali silicate. The substrate comprises metal foil, which can tolerate the corrosive environment that is encountered during the PV device production process and is not adversely affected by any high temperatures for construction of absorber layer. Preferred Parameter: The alkali metal is present in the ACPF in a concentration of 0.01-10, preferably 1-4 wt.%, based on the total weight of ACPF, when it is cured. The ratio of the respective alkali metal filler within the ACPF is selected to optimize the sodium release into a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) absorber during deposition to achieve efficient PV device.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The PV device further comprises a substrate positioned below the first ACPF; and polymer layer below the substrate, where polymer layer comprises a second ACPF, inorganic-filled polymer, and polyimide. The substrate comprises polymer having a thickness of 1-4 mils. It comprises polyimide and Kapton (RTM: polyimide film). The first ACPF comprises polyimide. The PV device comprises a polymer selected from polyamide-imide, polyphenyl sulfone, polyethersulfone, polysulfone, polyetheretherketone high temperature sulfone resins, self-reinforced polyphenylene, polybenzimidazole, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, or high temperature silicone and polysiloxane hardcoat. The first ACPF before curing, comprises polyamide-imide. The first ACPF comprises TORLON 4000 T (RTM: polyamide-imide). The ACPF incorporates filler medium that is embedded into a polymeric host medium whose contribution to the composite includes improved dimensional stability, increased thermal tolerance range, and the controlled release of an alkali element during an absorber deposition process that will control the carrier density, and thus enhance the efficiency of the resulting device as a p-type semiconductor. The ACPF provides an electrically insulating layer whose thermal tolerance is enhanced by the selection of inorganic filler media that imparts a dielectric property to the ACPF. It is replaced by thermally stable polymer film. Preferred Parameter: The polymer layer below the substrate and ACPF can withstand greater than or equal to 500 degrees C for greater than or equal to 5 minutes without degradation or excessive off-gassing.