TILES, APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING TILES

A tile comprises an exposed layer (3) provided with a separation zone between a first portion (4) and a second portion (6) of said tile (1, 101, 201, 301, 401), said first portion (4) and said second portion (6) being made of a first ceramic material and a second ceramic material, respectively, said first ceramic material being a first semiconductor material (5) having a type p structure, said second ceramic material being a second semiconductor material (7) having a type n structure and said separation zone being a p-n joint arranged for generating an electric current when illuminated by solar radiation; a tile comprises an exposed surface having a striped decoration (37), said decoration extending along said exposed surface through a significant thickness (S) of said tile; a method for forming tiles comprises supplying doped semiconductor ceramic materials (31, 32) through an inlet opening (38) of dispensing means (16) and dispensing said doped semiconductor ceramic materials (31, 32) through a release opening (40) of said dispensing means (16) opposite said inlet opening (38), said supplying comprising further dispensing said doped semiconductor ceramic materials (31, 32) through a plurality of dispensing nozzles (42) leading into an enclosure body (33) in which said inlet opening (38) is provided; an apparatus for forming, tiles comprises dispensing means (16; 518) arranged for receiving ceramic materials (31, 32, 48; 523, 524) through an inlet opening (38; 527) and dispensing said ceramic materials (31, 32, 48; 523, 524) through a release opening (40; 529) opposite said inlet opening (38; 527), said dispensing means (16; 518) comprising a plurality of dispensing nozzles (42; 530) opening into an enclosure body (33; 525) in which said inlet opening (38; 527) is provided. L'invention concerne un carreau comprenant une couche exposée (3) qui possède une zone de séparation entre une première partie (4) et une seconde partie (6) de ce carreau (1, 101, 201, 301, 401), ces première (4) et seconde (6) parties étant fabriquées à partir de matériau céramique, respectivement, le premier matériau céramique consistant en un premier matériau semiconducteur (5) à structure de type p, le second matériau céramique consistant en un second matériau semiconducteur (7) à structure de type n et la zone de séparation consistant en un joint p-n disposé de manière à produire une courant électrique lorsqu'il est éclairé par un rayonnement solaire; un carreau comprenant une sur