Patent ID: 8728933

Claim:
A method of kerf formation and treatment for solar cells, comprising: providing a semiconductor film that has a plurality of solar cells thereupon and is backed by a first metal layer connecting respective first terminals of the solar cells, the film having a front surface topped by a second metal layer connecting respective second terminals of the solar cells; defining a reference feature on the film between a first solar cell and a second solar cell; aligning an ultraviolet laser beam to the reference feature; cutting along the reference feature, using the aligned ultraviolet laser beam to cut from the front surface of the second metal layer, through the second metal layer, through the film, through the first metal layer and to or partially into a support material backing the first metal layer, leaving a kerf having walls with debris deposited upon the walls; and cleaning the debris off of the walls of the kerf, using an acid-based solvent, wherein the respective first terminals of the first and second solar cells are electrically isolated by the cleaned kerf and the respective second terminals of the first and second solar cells are electrically isolated by the cleaned kerf.