Patent ID: 7828983

Claim:
A process for texturing a surface of a semiconductor material, to result in a decreased reflectivity of said surface compared to a polished surface, the process comprising: applying a continuous layer of a protective substance on said surface, the protective substance comprising substantially random variations in the thickness thereof such that said layer has a plurality of randomly arranged 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, the textured surface comprising a plurality of at least partially rounded pits in said surface, wherein the density of said plurality of said pits in said surface is in the range of between 10 pits per 100 square microns to 1000 per 100 square microns.