Patent ID: 7736960

Claim:
A process for producing a photoelectric conversion device, comprising: forming a first semiconductor film having an amorphous structure including boron; adding an element for promoting crystallization to the first semiconductor film having the amorphous structure; conducting a first heat treatment to form a first semiconductor film having a crystal structure; forming a second semiconductor film containing a rare gas element over the first semiconductor film having the crystal structure; conducting a second heat treatment to segregate the element for promoting crystallization into the second semiconductor film; removing the second semiconductor film; forming an n-type crystalline silicon film over the first semiconductor film; forming a transparent electrode over the n-type crystalline silicon film; removing a part of the transparent electrode, a part of the n-type crystalline silicon film, and a part of the first semiconductor film having the crystal structure to expose the first semiconductor film having the crystal structure; and forming a positive electrode onto the first semiconductor film having the crystal structure and a negative electrode onto the transparent electrode, wherein the second heat treatment is conducted by rapid thermal annealing.