Monocrystalline silicon solar panel fragments

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 is a polycrystalline solar panel?

Polycrystalline solar panels are also made from silicon. However, instead of using a single silicon crystal, manufacturers melt many silicon fragments together to form wafers for the panel. Polycrystalline solar cells are also called "multi-crystalline" or many-crystal silicon.

How do polycrystalline solar panels work?

Polycrystalline or multi-crystalline solar panels combine several non-uniform silicon crystals in a single PV cell. Several silicon fragments are melted to form wafers of polycrystalline solar panels. As there are multiple silicon crystals used in manufacturing, there is less space for electrons to flow.

How are polycrystalline solar panels made?

Best polycrystalline solar panels also need a highly pure grade of silicon, but they use silicon fragments instead of one ingot. After the purifying process, the silicon is left to fragment upon cooling. The fragments are melted and poured into cubic-shaped crucibles and cut into wafers.