A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device typified by a
solar cell, having an excellent photoelectric conversion characteristic
with a silicon semiconductor material effectively utilized. The point is
that the surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to a
supporting substrate is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam to become
rough. The single crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with the
pulsed laser beam in an atmosphere containing an inert gas and oxygen so
that the surface thereof is made rough. With the roughness of surface of
the single crystal semiconductor layer, light reflection is suppressed so
that incident light can be trapped. Accordingly, even when the thickness
of the single crystal semiconductor layer is equal to or greater than 0.1
.mu.m and equal to or less than 10 .mu.m, path length of incident light
is substantially increased so that the amount of light absorption can be
increased.