Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell via a two-stage doping includes the steps of forming an oxide layer, which can be penetrated by a first dopant, on at least one part of the surface of a solar cell substrate, forming an opening in the oxide layer in at least one high-doping region by removing the oxide layer in this high-doping region and diffusing the first dopant into the at least one high-doping region of the solar cell substrate through the opening. The first dopant is diffused into the solar cell substrate through the oxide layer. The diffusing-in through the openings and through the oxide layer takes place at the same time in a common diffusion step and the solar cell substrate is diffused in the common diffusion step in an at least partially hydrophilic state.

Abstract: In the laser doping method in accordance with the invention firstly a medium containing a dopant is brought into contact with a surface of the solid-state material. Then, by beaming with laser pulses, a region of the solid-state material below the surface contacted by the medium is melted so that the dopant diffuses into the melted region and recrystallizes during cooling of the melted region. The laser beam is focussed linearly on the solid-state material, the width of the linear focus being preferably smaller than 10 ?m.