When most people think of solar panels, they envision monocrystalline or polycrystalline cells. Collectively, they account for over 90% of all new residential and commercial solar panel installations.
Monocrystalline cells are characterized by the use of a single silicon crystal, whereas polycrystalline cells use multiple silicone crystals that have been melted down. While most solar panels use one of these two technologies, however, some use thin-film technology. Below are six facts about thin-film solar panels and how they work.
#1) Made Of Multiple Layers
Thin-film solar panels are made of multiple layers, including a conductive sheet, one or more photovoltaic layers and a protective layer. The conductive sheet is the base layer. It’s made of an electrically conductive material, such as aluminum, to facilitate the panels’ sunlight-to-electricity conversion process. The photovoltaic layer or layers consist of a special material that, when exposed to sunlight, generates electricity. The protective layer is the uppermost layer that, as the name suggests, protects the panels from environmental damage.
#2) Layers Just 1 Micron Thick
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that thin-film solar panels are thin. The photovoltaic layers used in their construction are typically about 1 micron thick. To put that number into perspective, 1 micron is equal to one twenty-five thousandths of an inch.
#3) Available in Different Materials
While they all feature one or more layers of a photovoltaic material, thin-film solar panels are available in different types of materials. Some of the most common include amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium selenide. There are nuances between these materials, but they all exhibit photovoltaic properties, meaning they can convert sunlight into electricity via the photovoltaic effect.
#4) Flexible
Thin-film solar panels are often designed to be flexible. They can bend and flex without breaking. The same can’t be said for other types of solar panels, which are typically rigid and susceptible to breakage when bent. Thin-film solar panels use layers of very thin material, which allows for a flexible construction.
#5) Less Efficient Than Other Panels
Thin-film solar panels are less efficient than other types of panels, such as monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline solar panels have an efficiency rating of about 15% to 20%, whereas polycrystalline solar panels have an efficiency rating of 13% to 16%. Thin-film solar panels, in comparison, have an efficiency rating of about 7% to 13%.
#6) Better Protected From Heat and Shade
They may not be as efficient as their counterparts, but thin-film solar panels are better protected from heat and shade. Heat and shade can affect a solar panel’s ability to convert sunlight into electricity. While all solar panels experience some loss of efficiency when exposed to extreme heat or shade, thin-film solar panels can handle these environmental conditions better than other types.