A semiconductor device, including a silicon substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, a front surface device structure formed in a region of the first major surface, and a rear electrode formed in a region of the second major surface. The rear electrode includes, as a first layer thereof, an aluminum silicon film that is formed by evaporating or sputtering aluminum-silicon onto the second major surface, the aluminum silicon film having a silicon concentration of at least 2 percent by weight and a thickness of less than 0.3 μm.