SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENT HAVING GROOVES WHICH DIVIDE AN ELECTRODE LAYER, AND METHOD OF FORMING THE GROOVES

A semiconductor element is disclosed including a construction with electrode-dividing grooves, in which a dark current is smaller than in existing examples. A method of forming such grooves is also disclosed. In an embodiment, grooves, which electrically divide an electrode layer formed on the surface of a substrate, are formed with a V-shaped cross-sectional shape, groove side walls in the electrode layer, constituting the grooves, being sloping surfaces. An embodiment of the method of forming the grooves includes using a dicing blade having a blade distal end portion which is sharpened into a V-shape to cut a semiconductor wafer in which multiple patterns of semiconductor elements including an electrode layer on the surface of a substrate are formed, forming the grooves having a V-shaped cross-sectional shape which divide the electrode layer in each semiconductor element.