(EP1039552-A2)   NOVELTY - A flexible spacer between insulator substrate and back plate prevents substrate from being damaged. The spacer enables a point contact to be maintained between conductive layer and the substrate. The electric charge transferred from charged particles to the conductive layer on the substrate can be released to the earth via conductive holder.    USE - The method is used for forming thin-film photoelectric conversion devices.    ADVANTAGE - The sputter-deposition method is capable of preventing a conductive layer from being charged up and thus discharging when a film including at least one such conductive layer is formed on an insulator substrate. The solar battery has a peripheral edge region with an improved appearance. The photoelectric conversion device having a silver-containing back electrode layer has improved stability and reliability.    (JP2000252505-A)   NOVELTY - A flexible spacer between insulator substrate and back plate prevents substrate from being damaged. The spacer enables a point contact to be maintained between conductive layer and the substrate. The electric charge transferred from charged particles to the conductive layer on the substrate can be released to the earth via conductive holder.    USE - The method is used for forming thin-film photoelectric conversion devices.    ADVANTAGE - The sputter-deposition method is capable of preventing a conductive layer from being charged up and thus discharging when a film including at least one such conductive layer is formed on an insulator substrate. The solar battery has a peripheral edge region with an improved appearance. The photoelectric conversion device having a silver-containing back electrode layer has improved stability and reliability.    (JP2001026866-A)   NOVELTY - A flexible spacer between insulator substrate and back plate prevents substrate from being damaged. The spacer enables a point contact to be maintained between conductive layer and the substrate. The electric charge transferred from charged particles to the conductive layer on the substrate can be released to the earth via conductive holder.    USE - The method is used for forming thin-film photoelectric conversion devices.    ADVANTAGE - The sputter-deposition method is capable of preventing a conductive layer from being charged up and thus discharging when a film including at least one such conductive layer is formed on an insulator substrate. The solar battery has a peripheral edge region with an improved appearance. The photoelectric conversion device having a silver-containing back electrode layer has improved stability and reliability.    (JP2001053305-A)   NOVELTY - A flexible spacer between insulator substrate and back plate prevents substrate from being damaged. The spacer enables a point contact to be maintained between conductive layer and the substrate. The electric charge transferred from charged particles to the conductive layer on the substrate can be released to the earth via conductive holder.    USE - The method is used for forming thin-film photoelectric conversion devices.    ADVANTAGE - The sputter-deposition method is capable of preventing a conductive layer from being charged up and thus discharging when a film including at least one such conductive layer is formed on an insulator substrate. The solar battery has a peripheral edge region with an improved appearance. The photoelectric conversion device having a silver-containing back electrode layer has improved stability and reliability.