Ferritic stainless steel foil for solar cell

A method for manufacturing a ferritic stainless steel foil for a solar cell substrate, the method comprising:

• annealing a ferritic stainless steel sheet having a chemical composition comprising Cr:
• 14% or more and 24% or less, by mass %, and Nb:
• 0.1% or more and 0.6% or less, by mass %,
• then cold rolling the steel sheet with a rolling reduction in the range of 60% or, more to obtain the ferritic stainless steel foil;
• and
• subsequently heat treating in an inert gas atmosphere in such a manner that (i) the steel foil is heated to a heat treatment temperature T(° C.) at a heating rate in the range of 10° C./s or more and 100° C./s or less, (ii) the steel foil is held at the heat treatment temperature T(° C.) for a duration in the range of 1 second or more and 60 seconds or less, and (iii) the heated steel foil is cooled at a cooling rate in the range of 5° C./s or more and 50° C./s or less,
• wherein the heat treatment temperature T(° C.) satisfies relational expressions (1) and (2) in accordance with any temperature X selected from a temperature in the range of 450° C. or higher and 650° C. or lower:
• when 450° C.≦X<600° C., 300° C.≦T≦800° C. (1)
• when 600° C.≦X≦650° C., X-300° C.≦T≦800° C. (2).