The difference between solar cells and solar panels producing electricity for your home or business is a function of solar cells and solar panels working together.
Differentiate between solar panel and solar cell.
The cells the panels and the array and the inverter all join forces to make up your solar power system with the cells as the basis as they perform the work of generating the electricity.
All solar cells have both n type and p type with the great majority having one surface n type and one surface p type.
It is the junction between the n and the p type regions that creates the step in the energy levels that leads when illuminated to the 600 mv potential difference between the electrons entering the p type layer and leaving the n type layer.
The main difference between the two technologies is the type of silicon solar cell they use.
For example if the efficiency of a monocrystalline cell is about 2 greater than the polycrystalline cell say 17 vs.
A cell on its own doesn t produce much power and a number of cells together need the protection and stability that the panel offers.
Monocrystalline solar panels have solar cells made from a single crystal of silicon while polycrystalline solar panels have solar cells made from many silicon fragments melted together.
A solar cell panel has then a smaller solar active area compared to its total area than a single solar cell i e.