Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar cell element that comprises: a semiconductor substrate; and a collector electrode including a plurality of conductor portions elongated in a first direction on one main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the plurality of the conductor portions comprise: a linear first conductor region; and a linear second conductor region including a plated surface, the linear second conductor region being electrically connected to the first conductor region.

Abstract: A conductive paste for a photovoltaic cell and a method for producing the photovoltaic cell are disclosed. The conductive paste includes a silver powder, glass frit and a sintering inhibitor that suppresses sintering of the silver powder. The sintering inhibitor contains at least one substance selected from aluminum oxide, silicon oxide and silicon carbide. The method includes forming a first anti-reflective layer on a first region of a main surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a second anti-reflection layer on a second region of the main surface which is different from the first region; coating the electrically conductive paste onto the second anti-reflective layer on the second anti-reflection layer; and forming a surface electrode in the second region by reacting the second anti-reflection layer with the electrically conductive paste at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: The solar cell of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a back-side electrode arranged in a region excluding at least a predetermined conductor arrangement region in the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and solder adhering to the back surface of the semiconductor substrate in the conductor arrangement region and to the back-side electrode. The method of manufacturing a solar cell of the present invention includes preparing a semiconductor substrate, forming a back-side electrode having an empty portion through which the back surface of the semiconductor substrate is exposed in a region excluding at least a predetermined conductor arrangement region in the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and soldering in the empty portion by bringing solder into contact with the back surface of the semiconductor substrate exposed in the empty portion and with the back-side electrode and performing ultrasonic soldering.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is prepared. A glass layer containing one conductivity type dopant is formed on one main surface of the semiconductor substrate. One conductivity type semiconductor region including a first concentration region having a first concentration as a dopant concentration, and a second concentration region having a second concentration as a dopant concentration higher than the first concentration is formed by heating the semiconductor substrate with the glass layer on the one main surface to diffuse the dopant in a surface part on the one main surface side of the semiconductor substrate. Surfaces of two or more portions apart from each other in the surface part on the one main surface side of the semiconductor substrate are roughened by locally heating the semiconductor substrate from above the glass layer, to form alignment reference parts.

Abstract: A conductive paste for a photovoltaic cell and a method for producing the photovoltaic cell are disclosed. The conductive paste includes a silver powder, glass frit and a sintering inhibitor that suppresses sintering of the silver powder. The sintering inhibitor contains at least one substance selected from aluminum oxide, silicon oxide and silicon carbide. The method includes forming a first anti-reflective layer on a first region of a main surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a second anti-reflection layer on a second region of the main surface which is different from the first region; coating the electrically conductive paste onto the second anti-reflective layer on the second anti-reflection layer; and forming a surface electrode in the second region by reacting the second anti-reflection layer with the electrically conductive paste at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar cell element that comprises: a semiconductor substrate; and a collector electrode including a plurality of conductor portions elongated in a first direction on one main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the plurality of the conductor portions comprise: a linear first conductor region; and a linear second conductor region including a plated surface, the linear second conductor region being electrically connected to the first conductor region.