There are four main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film, passive emitter, and rear cell (PERC) solar panels. Higher efficiency PV technologies, including gallium arsenide and multi-junction cells, are less common due to their high cost, but are ideal for use in. There are many solar panel types, each with distinct characteristics, materials, efficiency rates, applications, and costs. Learn efficiency, cost, and performance differences to choose the best panels for your home in 2025. Descriptions below provide a brief overview of a few well-developed PV materials. As you read through, please also open the links within each paragraph to get more information about each.