A printable medium is proposed, such as can be used, for example, during the production of metal contacts for silicon solar cells which are covered with a passivation layer on a surface of a silicon substrate. A corresponding production method and a correspondingly produced solar cell are also disclosed. The printable medium contains at least one medium that etches the passivation layer and metal particles such as nickel particles, for example. By locally applying the printable medium to the passivation layer and subsequent heating, the passivation layer can be opened locally with the aid of the etching medium. As a result, the nickel particles can form a mechanical and electrical contact with the substrate surface, preferably with the formation of a nickel silicide layer. The printable medium and the production method made possible therewith are cost-effective owing to the use of nickel particles, for example, and allow both good electrical contact and avoidance of undesirable high-temperature steps.