A solar cell with a heterojunction is produced. A first amorphous nano- and/or microcrystalline semiconductor layer is formed on the front face of a crystalline semiconductor substrate to form front face emitter or a front face surface field layer. A second such layer is formed on the rear face of the substrate to form a rear face surface field layer or a rear face emitter. Electrically conductive, transparent front face and rear face electrode layers and a frontal metallic contact layer grid structure are formed. Surface selective frontal PECVD deposition forms an electrically non-conductive, transparent dielectric front face cover layer and with such a thickness to form a closed layer directly on deposition, without additional heat and/or chemical treatment, only on the areas surrounding the frontal contact layer grid structure but not on the frontal contact layer grid structure. Finally, a rear face metallization is formed.