Solar cell in a drinking straw

In association with

lots of colourful stripy paper straws in a jar

Source: © Shutterstock

Capture electricity from sunlight using raspberry juice and drinking straws.

In this experiment you make a solar cell in a drinking straw. You use the good light-absorbing properties of raspberry juice to capture electricity from sunlight, and some nice straightforward chemistry

Thanks for using the RSC’s education resources. You can view one resource per month as a visitor, or two resources per month when you’re logged in with a personal account.

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more: 

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Set up your Teach Chemistry account

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not a science teacher or technician based in the UK or Ireland?  Don’t worry – you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.