NOVELTY - Metalizing a photovoltaic solar cell to deposit a layer of metal on it, where the photovoltaic solar cell has a front side (10) comprising a pattern comprising metal on it and a backside (20) comprising a layer of a metal comprising aluminum or aluminum alloys, comprises: contacting the photovoltaic solar cell with a light induced plating composition comprising a source of soluble silver ions, and an agent that solubilizes aluminum metal ions dissolved from the layer of metal on the back side; and illuminating the photovoltaic solar cell with radiant energy from a light source.    USE - The method is useful for metalizing a photovoltaic solar cell to deposit a layer of metal on it.    ADVANTAGE - The method is contact-free and light-assisted autocatalytic or displacement process, and does not require electrical contacts with the device.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Metalizing a photovoltaic solar cell to deposit a layer of metal on it, where the photovoltaic solar cell has a front side comprising a pattern comprising metal on it and a backside comprising a layer of a metal comprising aluminum or aluminum alloys, comprises: contacting the photovoltaic solar cell with a light induced plating composition comprising a source of soluble silver ions, and an agent that solubilizes aluminum metal ions dissolved from the layer of metal on the back side; and illuminating the photovoltaic solar cell with radiant energy from a light source, where the metal ions from the light induced plating solution are plated onto the metallic pattern on the front side of the solar cell, the solar cell is not electrically connected to an external power source during the plating, and ions of the metal layer on the back side are dissolved into the light induced plating composition.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of the front side and the backside of a silicon solar cell.    Front side (10)    Front side metal busbars (12)    Metal lines (14)    Backside (20)    Backside metal busbars (22)