Abstract: A method of forming crystalline semiconducting layers on low melting or low softening point substrates includes the steps of providing an aqueous solution medium including a plurality of semiconductor nanoparticles dispersed therein having a median size less than 10 nm, and applying the solution medium to at least one region of a substrate to be coated. The substrate has a melting or softening point of <200° C. The solution medium is evaporated and the at least one region is laser irradiated for fusing the nanoparticles followed by annealing to obtain a continuous film having a recrystallized microstructure. An article includes a polycrystalline semiconducting layer including a plurality of crystallites predominately in the size range of 2 to 50 ?m, and a substrate having a melting or softening point of <200° C. supporting the semiconducting layer.