Solar cells having hybrid architectures including differentiated p-type and n-type regions with offset contacts

A method of fabricating a solar cell, the method comprising:

• forming a first emitter region over a substrate, the first emitter region having a perimeter around a portion of the substrate;
• forming a first conductive contact electrically coupled to the first emitter region only at a location outside of the perimeter of the first emitter region through an opening in a first insulator layer, the first conductive contact having a portion that extends vertically over the first emitter region, wherein a portion of the first emitter region at the location outside of the perimeter of the first emitter region is not in direct physical contact with the substrate;
• and
• forming a second insulator layer over the substrate, wherein a second portion of the first emitter region is within one or more openings in the second insulator layer and along a top surface of the second insulator layer, and wherein the second portion of the first emitter region is in contact with sidewalls of the one or more openings of the second dielectric layer and is in contact with the top surface of the second insulator layer.