TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The step (d) comprises atomizing the slurry and contacting the atomized slurry with the stream of hot gas. The method for producing composite metal powder further comprises: providing a binder material and combining the binder material with the molybdenum metal powder, potassium compound (16) and liquid to form a slurry; and heating the recovered composite metal powder at a temperature sufficient to drive off substantially all of the binder. The combining of the two powder supplies comprises adding the two powder supplies to a media-based mill and milling the powders, or to a blender and blending the powders. The composite metal powder is consolidated by cold or hot isostatically pressing the composite metal powder into a shape and sintering the shape. The sintering step is conducted in a hydrogen atmosphere at less than 825 degrees C. The compacting step comprises subjecting the potassium/molybdenum composite metal powder to a uniaxial pressure of 67-1103 MPa or a cold isostatic pressure of 138-414 MPa to form the preformed article. The method for producing metal article further comprises: degassing the preformed article before subjecting to the sealed container to an isostatic pressure by evacuating the sealed container while heating the sealed container; drying the preformed article before placing the preformed article in a sealed container by heating the preformed article to 100-200 degrees C, preferably 110 degrees C for 16 hours; drying the potassium/molybdenum composite metal powder before compacting by heating the potassium/molybdenum composite metal powder to 100-200 degrees C, preferably 110 degrees C for 2 -24 hours. The degassing step comprises evacuating the sealed container to a pressure of 800 millitorr, heating the sealed container to a temperature below an oxidation temperature of molybdenum, preferably 100-400 degrees C (preferably 250 degrees C) for 2 hours. The compacting of group IA alkali/molybdenum dry powder blend in the die is conducted at greater than 100 degrees C. The deposition of potassium/molybdenum metal layer comprises sputtering a target comprising a potassium/molybdenum metal matrix, sputtered material from the target forming the potassium/molybdenum metal layer. The deposition of potassium/molybdenum metal layer comprises: providing the composite metal powder comprising molybdenum and potassium, and depositing the composite metal powder on the substrate by thermal spraying, printing, or evaporation; and depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer on the junction partner layer. Preferred Components: The group IA alkali metal compound is a potassium compound, preferably potassium molybdate powder, and sodium compound, preferably sodium molybdate. The slurry comprises 15-25 wt.% of liquid, 0-2 wt.% of binder, 1-31 wt.% of potassium molybdate, and 52-84 wt.% of molybdenum metal powder. The heating step is performed in a hydrogen atmosphere at 500-1050 degrees C. The composite metal powder product has a Scott density of 1.5-3 g/cc. The composite metal powder product comprises 0.3-11.3 wt.% of retained potassium, and less than 9 wt.% of retained oxygen. The individual particles of the composite metal powder product have a size of 1-150 (preferably 5-75) mu m. The metal article comprises a sputter target. The metal article comprising molybdenum and potassium: is substantially chemically homogeneous with respect to potassium, oxygen, and molybdenum; is substantially physically homogeneous with respect to hardness; has impurities of less than 1000 ppm, exclusive of molybdenum, potassium, and oxygen; and has a potassium content of greater than or equal to 2 wt.%. The absorber layer comprises one or more copper, indium and selenium. The junction partner layer comprises one or more cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The temperature of the sealed container is raised to 890-1250 degrees C, preferably 1075 degrees C. The sealed container is subjected to an isostatic pressure of 102-205 (preferably 203) MPa. The sealed container is subjected to a hot isostatic pressing process for 4-8 (preferably 4) hours. The sealed container is subjected to an isostatic pressure for a time sufficient to increase the density of the article to at least 95% of theoretical density.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The liquid is water. The slurry comprises 15-25 wt.% of the liquid.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The binder comprises one or more polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycols. EXAMPLE - Deionized water (10 kg) and potassium molybdate powder (3.6 kg) were mixed together or blended for 60 minutes to ensure full dissolution of the potassium molybdate powder in the deionized water. Molybdenum metal powder (45 kg) was added to form a slurry. The slurry was then spray dried to produce a corresponding composite metal powder product.