Patent ID: 8822260

Claim:
A method to form a photovoltaic cell, the method comprising: defining a cleave plane in a monocrystalline semiconductor donor body; affixing a first surface of the semiconductor donor body to a receiver element; cleaving a monocrystalline semiconductor lamina from the semiconductor donor body along the cleave plane, the semiconductor lamina having a thickness between about 0.5 and about 50 microns, wherein the semiconductor lamina remains affixed to the receiver element, wherein the cleaving step creates a second surface of the semiconductor lamina substantially parallel to the first surface; and treating the second surface, the treating step comprising: fabricating a negative template having a negative template surface, the negative template surface having negative template relief; placing the negative template surface adjacent to the second surface, wherein photoresist is disposed between the negative template surface and the second surface; and forming lamina relief on the second surface, wherein the lamina relief is substantially the inverse of the negative template relief, with or without vertical exaggeration or compression.