Light scattering inorganic substrates comprising monolayers and methods for making light scattering inorganic substrates comprising monolayers useful for, for example, photovoltaic cells are described herein. One embodiment is a method for making a light scattering inorganic substrate. The method comprises providing an inorganic substrate comprising at least one surface, forming a monolayer of inorganic particles on the at least one surface to form a coated substrate, heating the coated substrate above the softening point of the inorganic substrate, and pressing the inorganic particles into the at least one surface form the light scattering inorganic substrate.