Patent ID: 7781669

Claim:
A photovoltaic cell comprising: a crystal-based semiconductor of one conductivity type; a first substantially intrinsic amorphous-based semiconductor film formed on at least a first region of a first surface of said crystal-based semiconductor, the first region having a predetermined width and excluding an outer periphery of said first surface of said crystal based semiconductor; a second amorphous-based semiconductor film of a conductivity type identical or opposite to said crystal-based semiconductor formed on a surface of said first substantially intrinsic amorphous-based semiconductor film and extending along said first region; and a first translucent electrode layer formed on a surface of said second amorphous-based semiconductor film, said first surface of said crystal-based semiconductor or said surface of said first amorphous-based semiconductor film being exposed from said second amorphous-based semiconductor film on said outer periphery of said crystal based semiconductor, said first electrode layer being formed on a second region covering said surface and a side surface of said second amorphous-based semiconductor film and extending over said outer periphery, said first electrode layer being in direct contact with said first surface of said crystal based semiconductor film or said surface of said first amorphous-based semiconductor film exposed from said second amorphous-based semiconductor film, on said outer periphery, and said first amorphous-based semiconductor film, said second amorphous-based semiconductor film, and said first electrode layer not formed on a side surface of said crystal based-semiconductor.