Abstract: A thin layer of single-crystal silicon is produced by forming first trenches in a silicon substrate having (111) orientation; forming narrower second trenches at the base of the trenches; anisotropically etching lateral channels (4) from the second trenches, until adjacent etch fonts (16) substantially meet; and detaching said layer from the substrate. The trenches may be arranged so that the resultant layer has rows of slots, with the slots in adjacent rows being mutually offset. Solar cells may be formed on strips having two electrical contacts on the same face (6) of each strip (5).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating elongated semiconductor strips from a wafer of semiconductor material are disclosed. Vacuum is applied to the face of each elongated semiconductor strip forming an edge of the wafer or being adjacent to the edge. The wafer and a source of the vacuum are displaced to separate each elongated semiconductor strip from the wafer. Further, a method and an apparatus for assembling elongated semiconductor strips separated from a wafer of semiconductor material into an array of the strips are disclosed. Still further, methods, apparatuses, and systems for assembling an array of elongated semiconductor strips on a substrate are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for increasing the usable surface area of a semiconductor wafer having a substantially planar surface and a thickness dimension at right angles to said substantially planar surface, the method including the steps of selecting a strip thickness for division of the wafer into a plurality of strips, selecting a technique for cutting the wafer into the strips at an angle to the substantially planar surface, in which the combined strip thickness and width of wafer removed by the cutting is less than the thickness of the wafer, cutting the wafer into strips using the selected technique and separating the strips from each other.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for texturing a surface of a semiconductor material, the process comprising: applying a layer of a protective substance on said surface wherein said layer is sufficiently thin that it has a plurality of apertures therethrough; and contacting said layer and said semiconductor material with an etchant capable of etching said semiconductor material faster than said protective substance, said etchant making contact with said semiconductor material at least through said apertures, for a time and under conditions in which said semiconductor material is etched by said etchant in the vicinity of said apertures to produce a textured surface on said semiconductor material, but said protective substance is substantially unetched.

Abstract: A method for processing elongate substrates, including forming a plurality of parallel elongate openings (102) through a semiconductor wafer (104) to form a corresponding plurality of elongate substrates (106) between the openings, each of the elongate substrates (106) having opposite edges coplanar with opposite surfaces of the wafer, opposite faces (112) orthogonal to the wafer surfaces, and opposite ends by which the elongate substrates are interconnected; and applying securing means (402) to at least one of the opposite edges of each elongate substrate to engage the edges and thereby inhibit relative movement of the elongate substrates.