A method for obtaining a desired dopant profile of an emitter for a solar cell which includes depositing a first amorphous silicon layer having a first doping level over an upper surface of the crystalline silicon substrate, depositing a second amorphous silicon layer having a second doping level on the first amorphous silicon layer, and heating the crystalline silicon substrate and the first and second amorphous silicon layers to a temperature sufficient to cause solid phase epitaxial crystallization of the first and second amorphous silicon layers, such that the first and second amorphous silicon layers, after heating, have the same grain structure and crystal orientation as the underlying crystalline silicon substrate.