The differences between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels are primarily evident in material preparation and performance:

1. Material Structure:

   • Monocrystalline Solar Panels: Monocrystalline silicon cells are produced by pulling a single crystal from a molten silicon bath, resulting in a single crystal silicon wafer. This manufacturing process imparts a highly ordered crystal structure, providing relatively high electron mobility and efficiency.
   • Polycrystalline Solar Panels: Polycrystalline silicon cells are made up of multiple crystal grains. The manufacturing process is simpler, leading to lower production costs. However, compared to monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon has lower electron mobility, resulting in slightly lower efficiency.

2. Efficiency:

   • Monocrystalline Solar Panels: Generally exhibit higher efficiency, meaning they have a greater ability to convert sunlight into electrical energy. The ordered crystal structure in monocrystalline silicon facilitates smoother electron migration, contributing to higher efficiency.
   • Polycrystalline Solar Panels: Efficiency is relatively lower, but due to lower costs, polycrystalline silicon panels are more competitive in large-scale applications and cost-sensitive projects.

3. Manufacturing Technology and Cost:

   • Monocrystalline Solar Panels: The manufacturing process is more complex, requiring higher-purity silicon raw materials. This complexity contributes to relatively higher production costs.
   • Polycrystalline Solar Panels: The manufacturing process is relatively simple, utilizing lower-purity silicon raw materials, resulting in lower production costs.