Multicrystalline silicon cells. Multicrystalline cells, also known as polycrystalline cells, are produced using numerous grains of monocrystalline silicon. In the manufacturing process, molten polycrystalline silicon is cast into ingots, which are subsequently cut into very thin wafers and assembled into complete cells.
Multicrystalline cells are produced using numerous grains of monocrystalline silicon. In the manufacturing process, molten multicrystalline silicon is cast into ingots, which are subsequently cut into very thin wafers and assembled into complete cells.
The term polycrystalline is derived from its cell structure, which contains multiple (“poly”) silicon crystals (“crystalline”). This contrasts with monocrystalline cells, which use a single (“mono”) silicon crystal.
Appearance: Monocrystalline solar cells are typically black due to the way light interacts with the pure silicon crystal, while polycrystalline solar cells are usually colored blue or even slightly purple due to the light reflecting off the multifaceted silicon crystals inside.
Crystalline silicon cells are further categorized as either monocrystalline silicon cells that offer high efficiencies (13–19%) but are more difficult to manufacture or polycrystalline (also called multicrystalline) silicon cells that have lower efficiencies (9–14%) but are less expensive and easier to manufacture.
Polycrystalline silicon, known as multicrystalline silicon, is a high-purity silicon used as the base material in solar cells. It is made by a chemical purification process from metallurgical-grade silicon. The polycrystalline structure results from molten silicon in which flat thin films have been drawn.