The extracts obtained from the fruits of ivy gourd and flowers of
red frangipani were used as sensitizers in DSSCs. Among these two
extracts, the DSSC fabricated with the extract of flowers of red
frangipani gave a significantly higher photocurrent and reasonable
efficiency. The DSSC fabricated with the extract of flowers of red
frangipani exhibited the efficiency of around 0.30% whereas the
cell based on the ivy gourd fruits extract gave efficiency of approximately
0.08%. The improved efficiency of the cell based on the red
frangipani flowers extract is due to the presence of alcoholic
groups in anthocyanins. The alcoholic group in anthocyanins favoured
the maximum binding on the surface of TiO2 nanostructure.
The UV–Vis measurements and surface concentration studies indicated
that the b-carotene in the extract of fruits of ivy gourd shows
less adsorbing property than that of red frangipani flower extract.
Investigations on the fabricated cells clearly indicated that the
DSSC fabricated with anthocyanin pigments present in the extract
of flowers of red frangipani shows better performance.