Abstract: A method of making an article of a semiconducting material involves selecting a target thickness for the article and then submerging a mold into a molten semiconducting material for a submersion time effective to form a solid layer of semiconducting material over an external surface of the mold where the thickness of the solid layer is substantially equal to the target thickness. The submersion time is selected to be substantially equal to a transition time, which is determined from a plot of solid layer thickness versus submersion time for a mold having particular attributes, including mold composition, mold thickness and initial mold temperature. The transition time, and thus the submersion time, corresponds to a maximum in solid layer thickness in the solid layer thickness versus submersion time curve for the particular mold.

Abstract: A method of making an article of a semiconducting material involves withdrawing from a melt of molten semiconducting material a solid mold having already formed on an external surface of the mold a solid layer of the semiconducting material. During the act of withdrawal, one or more of a temperature, a force, and a relative rate of withdrawal are controlled in order to achieve one or more desired attributes in a solid overlayer of semiconductor material that is formed over the solid layer during the withdrawal.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for inspecting a cylindrical porous ceramic body by positioning a diffuser near, and spaced apart from, the first end of a ceramic body; flowing a tracer flow toward the diffuser, wherein a first portion of the tracer flow passes through the diffuser, and a second portion of the tracer flow does not pass through the diffuser, the first and second portions of the tracer flow then entering the first end of the ceramic body, wherein the average velocity of the first portion of the tracer flow entering the ceramic body VAVG1 is lower than the average velocity of the second portion of the tracer flow entering the ceramic body VAVG2; directing light toward the second end of the ceramic body; and detecting reflected light coming from a location proximate the second transverse face at the second end of the ceramic body.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making articles of semiconducting material and semiconducting material articles formed thereby, such as articles of semiconducting material that may be useful in making photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making articles of semiconducting material and semiconducting material articles formed thereby, such as semiconducting material that may be useful in making photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making articles of semiconducting material and semiconducting material articles formed thereby, such as semiconducting material that may be useful in making photovoltaic cells.