NOVELTY - A photovoltaic conversion device comprises an insulator formed between semiconductor particles on a substrate in a first region and on the substrate in a second region. The thickness of the insulator in the second region is larger than that of the insulator in the first region. Semiconductor particles are joined to the first region.    USE - As a power generator in a solar energy system configured to supply electric power to a load (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - By making the thickness of the insulator in the second region larger than that of the insulator in the first region, stable insulating properties between the substrate and the transparent conductive layer can be ensured even if generated photocurrents concentrate on the bus bar electrode. This achieves high photovoltaic conversion efficiency.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A photovoltaic conversion device comprises: a substrate (1) as a lower electrode having a first region (31) and a second region (32) adjacent the first region; semiconductor particles (20) joined to the first region; an insulator (4) formed between the semiconductor particles on the substrate in the first region and on the substrate in the second region; a transparent conductive layer (5) as an upper electrode formed to cover the upper part of the semiconductor particles in the first region and the insulator in the first region; and a collecting electrode formed of a finger electrode arranged on the transparent conductive layer in the first region and a bus bar electrode (16) arranged in the second region and connected to the finger electrode. The thickness of the insulator in the second region is larger than that of the insulator in the first region.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a manufacturing method of a photovoltaic conversion device, comprising: preparing a substrate as a lower electrode having a first region and a second region adjacent the first region and joining semiconductor particles to the substrate in the first region; forming an insulator between the semiconductor particles on the substrate in the first region and on the substrate in the second region; forming a transparent conductive layer as an upper electrode formed to cover the upper part of the semiconductor particles in the first region and the insulator in the first region; and forming a finger electrode on the transparent conductive layer in the first region and a bus bar electrode connected to the finger electrode in the second region, wherein in the step of forming the insulator, the thickness of the insulator in the first region is smaller than that of the insulator in the second region.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a principal part sectional view of a photovoltaic conversion device.    Substrate (1)    One conduction-type crystal semiconductor particles (2)    Another reverse conduction-type semiconductor (3)    Insulator (4)    Transparent conductive layer (5)    Alloy layer (10)    Bus bar electrode (16)    Semiconductor particles (20)    First region (31)    Second region (32)