NOVELTY - The nanowire solar cell (1) comprises a semiconductor substrate (2), nanowire semiconductors (4, 5) grown on the substrate to form pn junctions, a transparent insulating material (6) filled in a gap between the semiconductors, an electrode (7) continuously provided on the insulating material to cover an end portion of the semiconductors, and a passivation layer (7) provided along a surface of the semiconductors, between the nanowire semiconductors and the insulating material and between the semiconductors and the electrode so as to prevent recombination of excitons.    USE - Used as a nanowire solar cell.    ADVANTAGE - The nanowire solar cell has improved photoelectric conversion efficiency, increased electric resistance and high electric power output, can be economically manufactured with improved optical absorption efficiency and external quantum efficiency and without any boundary surface defects, reduces the area of the contact interface between the semiconductors and the electrode, and prevents the surface recombination of electrons.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The nanowire solar cell (1) comprises a semiconductor substrate (2), nanowire semiconductors (4, 5) grown on the substrate to form pn junctions, a transparent insulating material (6) filled in a gap between the semiconductors, an electrode (7) continuously provided on the insulating material to cover an end portion of the semiconductors, and a passivation layer (7) provided along a surface of the semiconductors, between the nanowire semiconductors and the insulating material and between the semiconductors and the electrode so as to prevent recombination of excitons. The end portion of the nanowire semiconductors is opposite to the semiconductor substrate, and is connected to the nanowire semiconductors. The semiconductor substrate and the nanowire semiconductor are formed of a crystal. The passivation layer comprises a material that has a band gap larger than the pn junction formed by the nanowire semiconductor and forms a type 1 heterojunction with the nanowire semiconductor, and a protective coating layer for shielding the passivation layer from the atmosphere. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of manufacturing a nanowire solar cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of a nanowire solar cell.    Solar cell (1)    Substrate (2)    Nanowire semiconductor (4, 5)    Transparent insulating material (6)    Electrode (7)    Passivation layer. (10)