week2: information about common types of solar cells

Depending on the different types of materials, there four main types solar panels-Crystalline silicon solar panels, Amorphous silicon panels, Chemical dyes panels and Flexible solar cell.

Crystalline silicon solar panels include Monocrystalline solar cells and  Polycrystalline  silicon solar cells. Amorphous silicon panels include thin film solar cells, organic solar cells. Chemical dyes panels are called Dye-sensitized solar cell. 

The most expensive and also most efficiency type is Monocrystalline solar cells. Compared to the Monocrystalline solar cells, Polycrystalline  silicon solar cells are cheaper and use simpler materials but the photoelectric conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells will have to reduce a lot. What's more, the its battery life is also shorter than Monocrystalline solar cells.  The production method of thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells are completely different and the process is greatly simplified. It can also generate electricity in low-light conditions. However, the conversion efficiency is low and is not stable enough. 

Multi-compound solar cells solar cell means not a single element semiconductor material. However, this type do not have the majority of industrial production. A flexible thin film solar cell is a solar cell with respect to a conventional distinguished. Flexible thin-film solar cells are 80% lighter weight. It can be even bent and easy to carry and do not require a special holder in the installation. Its disadvantage is the conversion efficiency is lower than conventional crystalline silicon modules.

http://energyinformative.org/best-solar-panel-monocrystalline-polycrystalline-thin-film/

http://energyinformative.org/best-thin-film-solar-panels-amorphous-cadmium-telluride-cigs/

http://energyinformative.org/amorphous-silicon-solar-panels/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel#Rigid_thin-film_modules