Patent ID: 8410354

Claim:
A photoelectric conversion device comprising: a first semiconductor layer containing an impurity element imparting one conductivity type, which is formed using a microcrystalline semiconductor and provided over a first electrode; a second semiconductor layer which is provided over the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer containing an impurity element imparting a conductivity type which is opposite to the one conductivity type, which is provided over the second semiconductor layer; and a second electrode which is provided over the third semiconductor layer, wherein the second semiconductor layer includes on an interface side between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, a first crystal region having a three-dimensional shape which decreases in width from an interface between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer toward the third semiconductor layer, wherein the second semiconductor layer includes a second crystal region having a conical or pyramidal shape, wherein the conical or pyramidal shape includes a vertex in the second semiconductor layer and a base in an interface between the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer, wherein the conical or pyramidal shape decreases in width from the interface between the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer toward the first semiconductor layer, and wherein the second semiconductor layer has a plane including neither the first crystal region nor the second crystal region, and being parallel to the interface between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.