Solar panel is a product that converts solar energy into electricity. It is a kind of green energy. It is also a new product that is currently widely used, such as water heaters, bicycles, electric vehicles, etc., are powered by solar panels So, what are the solar panels?
(1) Polycrystalline silicon solar cell
The manufacturing process of a polycrystalline silicon solar cell is similar to that of a monocrystalline silicon solar cell, but the photoelectric conversion efficiency of a polycrystalline silicon solar cell is reduced a lot, and its photoelectric conversion efficiency is about 12%. In terms of production cost, it is cheaper than single-crystal silicon solar cells, the materials are simple to manufacture, power consumption is saved, and the total production cost is low, so it has been developed a lot. In addition, the service life of polycrystalline silicon solar cells is shorter than that of monocrystalline silicon solar cells. In terms of cost performance, monocrystalline silicon solar cells are still slightly better.
(2) Amorphous silicon solar cell
Amorphous silicon Sichuan solar cell is a new type of thin-film solar cell that appeared in 1976. It is completely different from the manufacturing method of single crystal silicon and polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The process is greatly simplified. The main advantage is that it can also generate electricity in low light conditions. However, the main problem of amorphous silicon solar cells is that the photoelectric conversion efficiency is low, the international advanced level is about 10%, and it is not stable enough. With time, the conversion efficiency decays.
(3) Monocrystalline silicon solar cell
The single-crystal silicon solar cell has a photoelectric conversion efficiency of about 15% and a maximum of 24%. This is the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of all types of solar cells, but the production cost is so large that it cannot be used universally. Because monocrystalline silicon is generally packaged with tempered glass and waterproof resin, it is sturdy and durable, with a service life of up to 15 years and a maximum of 25 years.
(4) Multi-component compound solar cell
Multicomponent solar cells refer to solar cells that are not made of single-element semiconductor materials. There are many varieties studied in various countries, most of which have not yet been industrialized. Semiconductor materials with multiple gradient band gaps (energy level differences between the conduction band and the valence band) can expand the range of solar absorption spectrum, thereby improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency. Based on it, a thin-film solar cell with a photoelectric conversion efficiency that is significantly higher than that of a silicon thin-film solar cell can be designed.
