Abstract: A method for doping a semiconductor substrate includes heating the semiconductor substrate by irradiation with laser radiation and at the same time diffusing dopant from a dopant source into the semiconductor substrate in heated regions. The semiconductor substrate is heated by the irradiation with laser radiation. A surface portion of the semiconductor substrate that is less than 10% of the total surface of all irradiated regions is melted and recrystallized. There is also provided a solar cell.

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.