A solar cell is suitable for being connected in series with a plurality of like cells to provide a solar generator device which can produce a desired output voltage. The cell comprises a photovoltaic section comprising compound semiconductor layers stacked on a semiconductor substrate to form a p-n junction and a protective diode section electrically isolated from the photovoltaic section by a p-n junction. The photovoltaic and diode sections are connected in an inverse-parallel connection in the cell. The protective diode has a current bypassing function when no light is incident on the photovoltaic section connected in parallel therewith within the solar generator device.
