A back-side contact solar cell has a semiconductor layer (1) having a semiconductor surface (15) and a semiconductor area (3) adjoining the semiconductor surface (15) in the semiconductor layer (1) An electrode (23) is electrically connected to the semiconductor area (3), wherein the semiconductor area (3) forms a contact area (31) with the electrode (23) along the semiconductor surface (15) A passivation layer (7) is disposed on the semiconductor surface (15) for passivating the semiconductor surface by means of field effect passivation, wherein the passivation layer (7) extends substantially over the entire semiconductor surface (15), and a polarized or neutral buffer layer (9) is disposed between the semiconductor layer (1) and the passivation layer and encompasses the contact area (31).