This invention comprises manufacture of photovoltaic cells by deposition of thin film photovoltaic junctions on
metal foil substrates. The photovoltaic junctions may be
heat treated if appropriate following deposition in a continuous fashion without deterioration of the
metal support structure. In a separate operation, an
interconnection substrate structure is provided, optionally in a continuous fashion. Multiple photovoltaic cells are then laminated to the
interconnection substrate structure and conductive joining methods are employed to complete the array. In this way the
interconnection substrate structure can be uniquely formulated from
polymer-based materials employing optimal
processing unique to polymeric materials. Furthermore, the photovoltaic junction and its
metal foil support can be produced in bulk without the need to use the expensive and intricate
material removal operations currently taught in the art to achieve series interconnections.