NOVELTY - Formation of photovoltaic device involves forming absorber layer on electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate (12), where substrate further comprises electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer on first surface, and electrically conductive metal layer between diffusion barrier layer and absorber layer, diffusion barrier layer prevents chemical interaction between substrate and electrically conductive metal layer and further comprising second electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer on second surface of substrate; and adding metal foil to aluminum foil substrate.    USE - For manufacturing photovoltaic device e.g. solar cell.    ADVANTAGE - The method provides cost-effective manufacture of photovoltaic devices in high-throughput manner on foil substrates; also the thin, flexible nature of devices allow them to be rolled or folded into smaller form for ease of transportation; reduces the amount of raw materials used in the manufacturing process. The diffusion barrier layer can prevent the chemical interaction between aluminum foil substrate and electrode layer.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) photovoltaic device (10) comprising substrate having electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate; absorber layer on substrate, where substrate further comprises electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer on first surface of substrate, and electrically conductive metal layer between the diffusion barrier layer and the absorber layer, and further comprising second electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer on second surface of substrate; and metal foil coupled to aluminum foil substrate, where electrically insulating layer is positioned; and    (2) forming photovoltaic device involving providing substrate having electrically conductive metallized polymer foil substrate; forming absorber layer on substrate.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows cross-sectional schematic diagram of fabrication of absorber layer.    Photovoltaic device (10)    Aluminum foil substrate (12)    Interfacial layer (13)    Base electrode (14)    Heating unit (20)