Solar cell and method of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a solar cell, comprising:

• preparing a substrate including a plurality of cell areas and a cell separation area disposed between neighboring cell areas;
• forming a plurality of back electrodes spaced apart from each other by a gap, each of the back electrodes being on the neighboring cell areas and the cell separation area between the neighboring cell areas;
• forming a light absorbing layer on the back electrodes and in the gap;
• removing a portion of the light absorbing layer to form a contact hole extending to a portion of the back electrodes;
• forming a buffer layer on upper and side surfaces of the light absorbing layer and in the contact hole;
• and
• removing the buffer layer disposed at a base of the contact hole to expose the back electrodes through the contact hole while leaving the buffer layer on the upper and side surfaces of the light absorbing layer;
• and
• forming a transparent electrode layer on the buffer layer and in the contact hole.