The present invention relates to a DC-DC boost converter for photovoltaic applications, where the DC-DC converter comprises an input terminal (14), and an output terminal (6) and a first autotransformer (37) comprising an intermediate terminal (15) and first and second end terminals (16, 17), a first diode (19), one terminal of which is coupled to said first end terminal (16), a second diode (20), one terminal of which is coupled to said second end terminal (17); where the second terminals of said diodes are connected to said output terminal (6); and where the output terminal (6) is coupled to said common terminal (8) of the converter through a first capacitor (10). In the converter according to the invention the first and second end terminals (16, 17) of the first autotransformer (37) are respectively connected to first and third terminals (55, 59) of a three-state switching cell (21), and second and fourth terminals (56, 60) of the three-state switching cell (21) are connected to the common terminal (8) of the converter. Preferably, the converter of the invention is provided with a snubber circuit (36, 18) between the input terminal and the output terminal of the converter in order to minimize the recovery current of boost diodes added to the three-state switching cell.