The performance and characteristics of a novel structure device combining amorphous and crystalline semiconductors is reported for the first time. An amorphous SiC:H/crystal Si heterostructure solar cell gave a conversion efficiency of 5.11% with Voc = 0.53 V and Isc = 22.64 mA/cm2 without the use of any transparent electrode or AR coating. The relative spectral response of the cells has been found to be close to that of the ‘violet cell’.