Patent ID: 8802485

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic cell structure comprising two electrodes and at least one silicon compound layer, comprising a) depositing, in a first vacuum chamber, said silicon compound layer upon a carrier structure for said silicon compound layer, resulting in a first surface of said silicon compound layer resting on said carrier structure and a second surface of said silicon compound layer, the second surface not being covered with a precursor; b) treating, in said first vacuum chamber, said uncovered second surface of said silicon compound layer by oxidizing said second surface in a predetermined oxygen- and dopant-gas-containing atmosphere, thereby enriching said second surface of said silicon compound layer with a dopant, the oxidation of said second surface being performed to avoid uncontrollable influences from subsequent ambient air exposure; c) moving said photovoltaic cell structure comprising said treated second surface from said first vacuum chamber to a second vacuum chamber through said ambient air; and d) depositing, in the second vacuum chamber, a further layer upon said second surface of said moved photovoltaic cell structure.