Abstract: A thin-film solar cell includes a substrate, a back surface electrode layer, a light-absorbing layer, and a transparent electrode layer, layered on the substrate, in this order. The layers are divided into multiple unit cells by a scribed groove, and the cells serially connected. At an inside of an end side of the solar cell perpendicular to the scribed groove, a groove is formed perpendicular to the scribed groove and has the back surface electrode is removed therefrom. The thin-film solar cell is produced by emitting a laser beam on the solar cell element of an end part of a side perpendicular to the scribed groove so as to form a new end surface by removing the back surface electrode layer, the light-absorbing layer and the transparent electrode layer, and mechanically forming the perpendicular groove perpendicular to the scribed groove, at inside of the new end surface.

Abstract: A process for producing a light absorbing layer for thin-film solar cell that possesses a film structure having a constituent component of chalcopyrite compound (Cu(In+Ga)Se2) uniformly distributed thereinside. There is provided a process for producing a light absorbing layer, including the precursor forming step of superimposing on an Mo electrode layer, adjacent to the electrode layer, an In metal layer and a Cu—Ga alloy layer according to sputtering technique; a first selenization step of, while accommodating precursor-provided substrate in an airtight space, introducing hydrogen selenide gas in the airtight space conditioned so as to range from room temperature to 250° C.; a second selenization step of additionally introducing hydrogen selenide gas in the airtight space heated so as to range from 250° to 450° C.

Abstract: A process for producing a light absorbing layer for thin-film solar cell that possesses a film structure having a constituent component of chalcopyrite compound (Cu(In+Ga)Se2) uniformly distributed thereinside. There is provided a process for producing a light absorbing layer, including the precursor forming step of superimposing on an Mo electrode layer, adjacent to the electrode layer, an In metal layer and a Cu—Ga alloy layer according to sputtering technique; a first selenization step of, while accommodating precursor-provided substrate in an airtight space, introducing hydrogen selenide gas in the airtight space conditioned so as to range from room temperature to 250° C.; a second selenization step of additionally introducing hydrogen selenide gas in the airtight space heated so as to range from 250° to 450° C.

Abstract: A method of forming a light-absorbing layer of CIGS by first forming a thin-film precursor of Ib-IIIb group metals by sputtering and then treating by heat the precursor in a selenium atmosphere, wherein particles sputtered from an alloy target of Ib group-IIIb group metals and a single metal target of Ib group or IIIb group metal, disposed opposite to each other, are well mixed to form a thin single-layered precursor being free from the occurrence of reaction of metals at a boundary of layers.