Abstract: A back-contact solar cell having a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer in a first region on a back side of a semiconductor substrate, and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in a second region and the first region on the back side. In the first region, an intrinsic semiconductor layer and the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers are stacked successively on the back side. In the second region, the intrinsic semiconductor layer and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer are stacked on the back side. In a boundary region between the first and second regions, an insulating layer, and the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers, are stacked successively on the back side, with the intrinsic semiconductor layer disposed between the layers and the back side. The insulating layer is interposed between the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the first region and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the second region.

Abstract: A solar cell for achieving an increase in performance. The solar cell is a back junction solar cell comprising a semiconductor substrate, first semiconductor layers stacked in a first region which is a part of the back side of the semiconductor substrate, and second semiconductor layers stacked in a second region which is another part of the back side of the semiconductor substrate. In the second region, the first semiconductor layers are present in some parts between the semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor layers, wherein the first semiconductor layers comprise sea shapes in a sea-island structure.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of band-like first semiconductor layers and a plurality of second semiconductor layers provided alternatively on a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate; a band-like first electrode stacked on the first semiconductor layer and a band-like second electrode stacked on the second semiconductor layer; and a band-shaped or linear insulating body stacked on a back surface of the first semiconductor layer in a region distanced from the first electrode and an edge on a side of the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell which simplifies the formation of a transparent electrode layer. The method includes forming conductive semiconductor layers on the back surface side of a substrate, forming a transparent conductive film on the conductive semiconductor layers, forming an uncured film of a metal electrode layer on the conductive semiconductor layers, patterning the transparent conductive film to form transparent electrode layers, and forming the metal electrode layers, in this order. In the metal electrode layer uncured film forming, a printing material is printed and dried to form the uncured film of the metal electrode layer; in the transparent electrode layer forming, the uncured film of the metal electrode layer is used as a mask to pattern the transparent conductive film; and in the metal electrode layer forming, the uncured film of the metal electrode layer is fired and cured to form the metal electrode layers.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an island-shaped conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated, and the island-shaped conductive layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A back-contact solar cell having a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer in a first region on a back side of a semiconductor substrate, and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in a second region and the first region on the back side. In the first region, an intrinsic semiconductor layer and the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers are stacked successively on the back side. In the second region, the intrinsic semiconductor layer and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer are stacked on the back side. In a boundary region between the first and second regions, an insulating layer, and the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers, are stacked successively on the back side, with the intrinsic semiconductor layer disposed between the layers and the back side. The insulating layer is interposed between the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the first region and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the second region.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a solar cell includes: forming a first semiconductor layer of first conductivity type on a surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a lift-off layer containing a silicon-based material on the first semiconductor layer; selectively removing the lift-off layer and first semiconductor layer; forming a second semiconductor layer of second conductivity type on a surface having the lift-off layer and first semiconductor layer; and removing the second semiconductor layer covering the lift-off layer by removing the lift-off layer using an etching solution.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an island-shaped conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated, and the island-shaped conductive layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell includes: forming a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type on and over one of two major surfaces facing each other on a crystal substrate; forming a lift-off layer on and over the first semiconductor layer; selectively removing the lift-off layer and first semiconductor layer; forming a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type on and over the major surface having the lift-off layer and the first semiconductor layer; and removing the second semiconductor layer covering the lift-off layer by removing the lift-off layer using an etching solution; and washing the crystal substrate by using a rinsing liquid.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an island-shaped conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated, and the island-shaped conductive layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a solar cell includes: forming a first semiconductor layer of first conductivity type on a surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a lift-off layer containing a silicon-based material on the first semiconductor layer; selectively removing the lift-off layer and first semiconductor layer; forming a second semiconductor layer of second conductivity type on a surface having the lift-off layer and first semiconductor layer; and removing the second semiconductor layer covering the lift-off layer by removing the lift-off layer using an etching solution.

Abstract: The solar cell includes an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer on a first principal surface of a crystalline silicon substrate. The n-type semiconductor layer is provided so as to extend over a part on a p-type semiconductor layer-formed region provided with the p-type semiconductor layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer non-formed-region where the p-type semiconductor layer is not provided. In a region where the n-type semiconductor layer is provided on the p-type semiconductor layer, a protecting layer is between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer. The protecting layer includes: an underlying protecting layer that is in contact with the p-type semiconductor layer; and an insulating layer that is on the underlying protecting layer. The underlying protecting layer includes an intrinsic silicon-based layer or an n-type silicon-based layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device, wherein the photoelectric conversion device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity-type region, a second conductivity-type region, and a boundary region on a first principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, the boundary region being in contact with and separating the first conductivity-type region and the second conductivity-type region, the method including: stacking a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer over the second conductivity-type region and the boundary region on the first principal surface of the semiconductor substrate; stacking an insulating layer over the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the boundary region; stacking a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer over the first conductivity-type region on the first principal surface of the semiconductor substrate and on the insulating layer; stacking an electrode layer on the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and the second

Abstract: A solar cell includes: first conductivity-type layers and second conductivity-type layers each provided on a rear surface of a semiconductor substrate; first electrodes provided on the first conductivity-type layers; and second electrodes provided on the second conductivity-type layers. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are spaced apart from each other, and the first electrodes include a plurality of regions isolated from one another by the second electrodes disposed therebetween. Each of the plurality of regions of the first electrodes includes a non-mounting electrode section and a wiring-mounting electrode section having a larger electrode height than the non-connection electrode section. In two adjacent first electrode regions, an imaginary line connecting the top of the wiring-mounting electrode section of one of the regions and the top of the wiring-mounting electrode section of the other region does not cross the second electrode disposed between the two regions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device, wherein the photoelectric conversion device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity-type region, a second conductivity-type region, and a boundary region on a first principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, the boundary region being in contact with and separating the first conductivity-type region and the second conductivity-type region, the method including: stacking a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer over the second conductivity-type region and the boundary region on the first principal surface of the semiconductor substrate; stacking an insulating layer over the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the boundary region; stacking a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer over the first conductivity-type region on the first principal surface of the semiconductor substrate and on the insulating layer; stacking an electrode layer on the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and the second

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes, on one principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, a first conductivity-type region, a second conductivity-type region, and a boundary region which is in contact with each of the first conductivity-type region and the second conductivity-type region to separate these two regions. A first conductivity-type semiconductor layer is disposed over the entire first conductivity-type region and extending over the boundary region. A second conductivity-type semiconductor layer is disposed over the entire second conductivity-type region and extending over the boundary region. An insulating layer is disposed over the entire boundary region. A first electrode is disposed over the entire first conductivity-type region and extending over the boundary region, and a second electrode is disposed over the second conductivity-type region.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an island-shaped conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated, and the island-shaped conductive layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a conductive crystalline silicon substrate, a first conductive silicon layer, a second conductive silicon layer, a first intrinsic silicon layer, and a second intrinsic silicon layer. The first conductive silicon layer and the second conductive silicon layer are disposed on one principal surface of the conductive crystalline silicon substrate and are electrically insulated from each other. The second conductive silicon layer includes a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion is separated from the conductive crystalline silicon substrate by the first intrinsic silicon layer and the first conductive silicon layer, and where the second portion is separated from the conductive crystalline silicon substrate by the second intrinsic silicon layer. The first intrinsic silicon layer has a greater thickness than the second intrinsic silicon layer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes, on one principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, a first conductivity-type region, a second conductivity-type region, and a boundary region which is in contact with each of the first conductivity-type region and the second conductivity-type region to separate these two regions. A first conductivity-type semiconductor layer is disposed over the entire first conductivity-type region and extending over the boundary region. A second conductivity-type semiconductor layer is disposed over the entire second conductivity-type region and extending over the boundary region. An insulating layer is disposed over the entire boundary region. A first electrode is disposed over the entire first conductivity-type region and extending over the boundary region, and a second electrode is disposed over the second conductivity-type region.

Abstract: A crystalline silicon solar cell module includes a crystalline silicon solar cell and an interconnector. The interconnector is electrically connected to the crystalline silicon solar cell. The crystalline silicon solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion section that has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The crystalline silicon solar cell also includes a plurality of first finger electrodes arranged side by side on the first surface of the photoelectric conversion section. The crystalline silicon solar cell further includes a first insulating layer over the first surface of the photoelectric conversion section and the first finger electrodes. The interconnector extends across the plurality of first finger electrodes and electrically connects the first finger electrodes. The first insulating layer has an opening through which the first finger electrodes and the interconnector are electrically connected.