Monocrystalline silicon refers to the overall crystallization of silicon material into a single crystal form, which is currently a commonly used photovoltaic power generation material. Monocrystalline silicon solar cells are the most technologically mature among silicon-based solar cells. Compared with polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon solar cells, its photovoltaic conversion efficiency is the highest. The production of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon cells is based on high-quality monocrystalline silicon materials and mature processing techniques. (ITEHIL foldable solar panels are one of the first stores to use monocrystalline silicon technology)
What are Monocrystalline Solar Panels?
Monocrystalline silicon solar cells use monocrystalline silicon rods with a purity of up to 99.999% as raw materials, which also increases the cost and is difficult to use on a large scale. To save costs, the current application of monocrystalline silicon solar cells has relaxed material requirements, and some of them use the head and tail materials of semiconductor device processing and waste monocrystalline silicon materials, or they are made into monocrystalline silicon for solar cells after compound drawing. Great. Monocrystalline silicon wafer texturing technology is an effective means to reduce light loss and improve cell efficiency. (ITEHIL foldable solar panels use monocrystalline silicon, which has a conversion rate of up to 23%).
Production process
To process solar cells, first doping and diffusing on silicon wafers. Generally, trace amounts of boron, phosphorus, and antimony are the dopants. Diffusion is carried out in a high-temperature diffusion furnace made of quartz tubes. In this way, a P>N junction is formed on the silicon wafer. Then using the screen printing method, the finely prepared silver paste is printed on the silicon wafer to make grid lines. After sintering, the back electrode is made at the same time, and the surface with the grid lines is coated with an anti-reflection source to prevent a large number of photons. Reflected off by the smooth surface of the silicon wafer.
Constitutive effect- Tempered glass: Its function is to protect the main body of power generation (such as cells), and the selection of light transmission is required. First, the light transmittance must be high (generally 91% is used on monocrystalline silicon solar cells); second, ultra-white tempered treatment.
- EVA: It is used to bond and fix the tempered glass and the main body of power generation (such as cells). The quality of transparent EVA material directly affects the life of the module. The EVA exposed to the air is easy to age and yellow, which affects the light transmittance of the module. In addition to the quality of EVA itself, the power generation quality of the module is also very affected by the lamination process of the module manufacturer. Module life (ITEHIL foldable solar panels use ETFE film imported from Japan to make solar panels more durable and have a longer service life).
- Battery slice: The main function is to generate electricity. The mainstream in the main power generation market are crystalline silicon solar cells and thin-film solar cells, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages. Crystal silicon solar cells have relatively low equipment costs, high consumption and cell costs, and high photoelectric conversion efficiency; thin-film solar cells are more suitable for power generation under outdoor sunlight, and equipment costs are relatively high, and the consumption and battery costs are very low. The photoelectric conversion efficiency is more than half that of a crystalline silicon cell, but the low-light effect is very good, and it can generate electricity under ordinary light, such as the solar cell on the calculator.
- Backplane: The function is that sealing, insulation, and waterproofing are generally made of TPT, TPE, and other materials that must be resistant to aging. At present, component manufacturers have a 25-year warranty. Tempered glass and aluminum alloy are generally okay. The key is whether the backplane and silica gel can meet the requirements. We know that the power generation efficiency of a single cell is very low. For example, the power of a 156 cell is only more than 3W, which is far from meeting our needs. Therefore, we have connected more cells in series to meet our requirements. Power, current, voltage, and the cells connected in series are called battery strings.
- Aluminum alloy: Protect the laminate, and play a certain role in sealing and supporting.
- Junction box: Protect the entire power generation system and play the role of a current transfer station. If the component short-circuit junction box automatically disconnects the short-circuit battery string to prevent burn-out of the entire system junction box, the most important thing is the selection of diodes. Depending on the type of cell in the component, The corresponding diodes are also different.
- Silica gel: Sealing function, used to seal the component and aluminum alloy frame, component, and junction box (the junction box of the ITEHIL foldable solar panel adopts a waterproof zipper, IPX4 waterproof, which effectively extends the service life). Some companies use double-sided tape and foam To replace silica gel, silica gel is widely used, which is simple, convenient, easy to operate, and low cost.
How do monocrystalline solar panels work?
The principle of solar panels is mainly based on the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect refers to the fact that when light shines on a semiconductor material, a pair of electrons and positrons will be generated, thereby generating an electric current. The semiconductor material commonly used in solar panels is silicon. When silicon materials are exposed to light, they will generate electron-hole pairs, and these electron-hole pairs will generate current under the action of the electric field, thereby realizing the conversion of solar energy.
Related: How do solar panels work
In solar panels, silicon materials are divided into two layers, one layer is rich in electrons, called N-type semiconductors, and the other layer is rich in positrons, called P-type semiconductors. When light shines on solar panels, photons will excite electrons in silicon materials, causing them to jump to the conduction band to form electron-hole pairs. These electron-hole pairs will generate a potential difference between N-type and P-type semiconductors, thereby forming an electric field, which will separate electrons and positrons and generate current.
During operation, solar panels will convert light energy into DC power and output it to the circuit for power supply. Generally, solar panels will form solar cell arrays in parallel or series to increase the output voltage and current to meet the needs of practical applications.
What are the uses of monocrystalline solar panels?
Due to the extremely high efficiency and long life of monocrystalline solar panels, monocrystalline solar panels are widely used in various fields. The following are the main uses of monocrystalline solar panels:
- Home photovoltaic systems
- Commercial and industrial applications
- Off-grid systems
- Portable power equipment
- Transportation
- Agriculture and animal husbandry
- Communication equipment power supply
In addition, these applications take full advantage of the high conversion efficiency and stability of monocrystalline solar panels, helping to achieve energy self-sufficiency and environmental protection.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of monocrystalline solar panels?
Monocrystalline solar panels are an important part of the solar energy market. Although they have many advantages, they also have some disadvantages. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of monocrystalline panels will not only help you better evaluate whether it is suitable for specific needs but also help you make more informed decisions when investing in clean energy.
Advantage
- High efficiency: Monocrystalline solar panels are more efficient than polycrystalline and thin-film panels.
- Long service life: Monocrystalline panels can generally last more than 25 years and maintain high performance for a long time.
- High space utilization: Monocrystalline panels require a smaller installation area and are suitable for occasions with limited space.
- Better performance: Monocrystalline panels often perform better than other types of solar panels in low light or high temperature conditions.
Shortcoming
- Higher cost: The process of producing monocrystalline panels is complex and costly.
- High energy consumption in the production process: The production of monocrystalline panels requires high-purity silicon and a more complex manufacturing process, resulting in high energy and material consumption.
- Ambient temperature sensitivity: Their performance levels tend to be affected by increased temperatures. However, this loss is small compared to other forms of solar cells.
Therefore, monocrystalline solar panels have become an ideal choice for many users due to their high efficiency, durability, and aesthetics. However, when choosing solar panels, you need to weigh the pros and cons of monocrystalline panels according to your situation to find the solar energy solution that best suits you.
The difference between monocrystalline solar panels and polycrystalline
Different arrangement
Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are components composed of high-conversion-efficiency monocrystalline silicon cells in different series and parallel arrays. Polycrystalline silicon solar panels are photovoltaic components with different powers arranged in different arrays using polycrystalline silicon solar cells.
Different cells are used
Monocrystalline silicon solar panels use monocrystalline silicon solar cells; while polycrystalline silicon solar panels use polycrystalline silicon solar cells.
Different conversion efficiencies
The photoelectric conversion efficiency of monocrystalline silicon solar cells is about 15%, with the highest reaching 24%; while the photoelectric conversion efficiency is about 12%.
Different manufacturing costs
The manufacturing cost of monocrystalline solar panels is very high, far higher than the manufacturing cost of polycrystalline solar panels.
Choosing the Ideal Solar Panel for Your Project
If you are an outdoor enthusiast and want to choose high-quality monocrystalline solar panels, it is highly recommended that you choose ITEHIL Portable solar panels. It uses efficient monocrystalline silicon technology to maximize power generation efficiency in sunny environments, providing sufficient energy support for outdoor adventures, RV travel, and even daily emergency power supply.
ITEHIL monocrystalline solar panels are a product with advanced materials, portable design, and beautiful appearance, making them an ideal choice for long-term solar power enthusiasts.
In addition, ITEHIL monocrystalline solar panels also perform well in durability. They are carefully designed to adapt to various harsh outdoor environments and provide stable performance. If you want to know more, please pay attention to the ITEHIL monocrystalline solar panel details page.
Final Thoughts
Monocrystalline solar panels have become the first choice for many solar energy users due to their high efficiency, stability, and wide applicability. Whether it is home installation, commercial use, or outdoor portable equipment, monocrystalline solar panels can provide stable power support.
FAQ
Do monocrystalline solar panels work in the shade?
Monocrystalline solar panels can still generate electricity in the shade, but the efficiency will be reduced. Keeping plenty of sunlight can bring out the best performance of solar panels.
What is the life expectancy of a monocrystalline solar panel?
In general, the expected lifespan of monocrystalline solar panels is usually 25-30 years.
What is the maintenance on monocrystalline solar panels?
For example, regularly clean the surface dust and debris, check the firmness of the wiring and brackets, and ensure that no leaves or obstructions are affecting the light.
Are Monocrystalline Solar Panels the Best Choice?
Yes. If you consider efficiency and performance or need a long service life, monocrystalline solar panels are indeed a good choice.
