NOVELTY - The solar cell comprises a germanium vicinal substrate (102), a p-n junction (104) formed atop the germanium substrate, a solar cell window layer (106) formed atop the p-n junction, a patterned cap layer (108) formed atop the solar cell window layer, a sidewall (112) extending along a height of the cap layer and towards the germanium substrate, a side piece adjacent to the sidewall, an electrical insulator layer formed on a portion of the patterned cap layer, and a metal layer (110) formed on a portion of the patterned cap layer, the side piece and the electrical insulator layer.    USE - The single or multiple junction solar cell such as a pseudomorphic cell, a metamorphic cell and inverted metamorphic is useful in concentrator photovoltaic systems, and in space application such as power satellite.    ADVANTAGE - The solar cell has increased cell performance, high reliability, reduced size and lattice defects and improved conversion efficiency, minimizes damage to the window layer, and mitigates propagation of defects into p-n junctions.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The solar cell comprises a germanium vicinal substrate (102), a p-n junction (104) formed atop the germanium substrate, a solar cell window layer (106) formed atop the p-n junction, a patterned cap layer (108) formed atop the solar cell window layer, a sidewall (112) extending along a height of the cap layer and towards the germanium substrate, a side piece adjacent to the sidewall, an electrical insulator layer formed on a portion of the patterned cap layer, and a metal layer (110) formed on a portion of the patterned cap layer, the side piece and the electrical insulator layer. The solar cell is made of semiconductor materials, and has a crystalline structure with crystal planes. The p-n junction includes group III elements and group V elements. The cap layer is electrically connected to the solar cell window layer, and exposes a light-input portion of the solar cell window layer. The sidewall has a cleaved surface parallel to a cleaving plane of the solar cell. The cleaving plane is parallel to a crystal plane of the solar cell. A portion of the metal layer defines a busbar of the solar cell. The p-n junction, the solar cell window layer, and the cap layer are pseudomorphic with the germanium substrate. The busbar bridges the side piece and the patterned cap layer. The side piece is an electrical insulator piece. The germanium substrate has a vicinal angle of 0-20 degrees . An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of manufacturing solar cells from a semiconductor wafer.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of a solar cell.    Germanium substrate (102)    P-n junction (104)    Window layer (106)    Cap layer (108)    Metal layer (110)    Sidewall. (112)