Monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar cells

What is a monocrystalline solar panel?

Monocrystalline solar panels have black-colored solar cells made of a single silicon crystal and usually have a higher efficiency rating. However, these panels often come at a higher price. Polycrystalline solar panels have blue-colored cells made of multiple silicon crystals melted together.

What are polycrystalline solar panels?

Polycrystalline solar panels (or poly panels) are made of individual polycrystalline solar cells. Just like monocrystalline solar cells, polycrystalline solar cells are made from silicon crystals. The difference is that, instead of being extruded as a single pure ingot, the silicon crystal cools and fragments on its own.

Are polycrystalline solar panels better than monocrystalline?

Because monocrystalline panels tend to cost about $0.05 per watt more, the polycrystalline units are a better value, as long as you have enough space for the panels. Polycrystalline solar panels work better in areas that are rich in sunlight since they deliver less wattage than the panels. Compare Quotes From Top-rated Solar Panel Installers

How are monocrystalline solar panels made?

In order to produce monocrystalline solar panels the silicon is formed into bars before being cut into wafers. The cells are made of single-crystal silicon which means that the electrons have more space to move around and can therefore generate more energy.

How do polycrystalline solar panels work?

The blue-colored square polycrystalline cells fit neatly side by side, eliminating any empty space between the cells. Polycrystalline solar panels operate less efficiently than monocrystalline panels because the melted fragments of silicon afford less room for the electrons to move around.

How do monocrystalline cells differ from Polycrystalline cells?

What differs monocrystalline cells from polycrystalline cells is that monocrystalline panels are made of a single pure silicon ingot. Making a single pure silicon ingot was really hard until Czochralski discovered this brilliant way. First, you dip a seed crystal, which is a small rod of pure single crystal silicon into the molten silicon.