Patent ID: 8293009

Claim:
A method for fabricating a semi-conductor body, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a molten semi-conductor material, having a surface; b. providing a porous mold, comprising a forming surface; c. providing a differential pressure regime such that pressure at at least a portion of the forming surface is less than pressure at the molten material surface; d. contacting the forming surface to the molten material for a contact duration such that, for at least a portion of the contact duration: i. the differential pressure regime is provided and; ii. at least a portion of the forming face is at a temperature below a melting point of the semi-conductor material, such that a body of semi-conductor material, solidifies upon the forming surface; e. causing motion of the forming surface relative to the molten semi-conductor material, with the solidified body upon the forming surface; and f. reducing the degree of the differential pressure regime, thereby contributing to the solidified body detaching from the forming surface.