Unveiling PV Panel Knowledge: A Comprehensive Analysis of Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, Single-Double Glass, N-Type/P-Type, Topcon, and BC Technologies

1. Differences Between Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline PV Panels

The core difference between the two lies in the purity of battery raw materials and crystal structure. Monocrystalline PV panels use silicon raw materials with higher purity. Silicon atoms are neatly arranged in a unified order and direction throughout the crystal lattice, forming a complete large crystal without internal boundaries, which can be compared to a uniform and intact crystal.

Polycrystalline PV panels are composed of a large number of small single crystals randomly combined. Although the atoms inside each small crystal are arranged neatly, the atoms at the grain boundaries between crystals are arranged chaotically, similar to the form of multiple small crystal fragments melted and re-solidified. This structural difference causes electrons to be easily blocked or trapped by grain boundaries when flowing in polycrystalline silicon wafers, resulting in energy loss. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of polycrystalline PV panels is naturally lower than that of monocrystalline PV panels.

In terms of appearance, monocrystalline PV panels mostly appear black or cyan, while polycrystalline PV panels show an uneven black-blue interlaced color due to irregular crystal arrangement. Currently, polycrystalline PV panels have gradually withdrawn from the mainstream application market.

2. Characteristics of Single-Glass and Double-Glass PV Panels

Single-glass PV panels adopt a structure of "front glass + back backsheet", where the backsheet is usually white, and the front glass is 3.2mm thick tempered glass. Double-glass PV panels are designed with glass on both sides, and the glass on both the front and back sides is 2mm thick semi-tempered glass.

In terms of performance, single-glass PV panels have better hail resistance. In testing, they can withstand hailstones with a diameter of 25mm impacting at a speed of 25m/s. Moreover, single-glass PV panels are approximately 5kg lighter than double-glass PV panels of the same specification, making them more suitable for areas with weak load-bearing capacity.

The core advantage of double-glass PV panels is their dual-sided power generation capability. The power generation power of the front side is consistent with the power marked on the product label, while the power generation power of the back side is not included in the nominal power and is an additional gain. At the same time, double-glass PV panels have better fire rating, insulation performance, and airtightness than single-glass PV panels, so they have a wider range of application scenarios.

3. Technical Distinction Between N-Type and P-Type Batteries

The core difference between N-type and P-type batteries lies in the different doping elements in the silicon wafers. P-type batteries use silicon wafers doped with boron atoms as the substrate, while N-type batteries use silicon wafers doped with phosphorus atoms as the substrate.

In terms of performance, N-type batteries have higher photoelectric conversion efficiency and better power generation performance in low-light environments than P-type batteries. With technological iteration, the production cost of N-type batteries is gradually decreasing. In practical applications, the two types can be distinguished by the number of grid lines on the surface of PV panels: P-type batteries are usually designed with 9 or 11 grid lines, while N-type batteries usually have 16 or more grid lines.

4. Characteristics of Topcon and BC Technologies

Both Topcon and BC belong to technical routes based on N-type batteries, and their core difference lies in the design of electrode structure. PV panels using Topcon technology retain grid lines on the front side, while those using BC technology (Back Contact technology) have all electrodes arranged on the back of the battery, with no grid lines on the front side.

From the perspective of current market application, Topcon technology remains the mainstream choice due to its high maturity and strong compatibility. BC technology, on the other hand, with the advantage of no obstruction on the front side, is gradually being explored and applied in specific high-efficiency power generation scenarios.