Abstract: An apparatus continuously manufactures a semiconductor device. A plurality of glow discharge regions are connected by gas gates. An enough long belt-shaped substrate having a desired width is arranged along a path in which the substrate sequentially penetrates the glow discharge regions. The belt-shaped substrate is continuously conveyed in a longitudinal direction while depositing a semiconductor layer of a conductivity type which is needed in each of the glow discharge regions, thereby continuously manufacturing the device having a semiconductor junction. A plurality of rotatable rollers are arranged in a slit-shaped separating passage of the gas gates so as to support the back surface of the belt-shaped substrate while rotating the rollers.

Abstract: A solar cell comprising a conductive substrate and semiconductor layers laminated on the conductive substrate, said laminate comprising a p-type layer composed of a non-single crystal Si material, an i-type layer serving as an active layer and an n-type layer, wherein a diamond layer having an uneven surface and containing a valence electron controlling agent is interposed between the conductive substrate and the semiconductor layers.

Abstract: An apparatus continuously manufactures a semiconductor device. A plurality of glow discharge regions are connected by gas gates. A sufficiently long belt-shaped substrate having a desired width is arranged along a path in which the substrate sequentially penetrates the glow discharge regions. The belt-shaped substrate is continuously conveyed in a longitudinal direction while depositing a semi-conductor layer of a conductivity type in each of the glow discharge regions, thereby continuously manufacturing the device having a semiconductor junction. A plurality of rotatable rollers are arranged in a slit-shaped separating passage of the gas gates so as to support the back surface of the belt-shaped substrate while rotating the rollers.