Ocean-based electricity generating system utilizing the electrochemical conversion of wave energy by ionic polymer-metal composites

•Optimization of energy harvesting system design using IPMC for performance enhancement.•Numerical studies of the energy harvesting system using IPMC materials operating in the ocean.•Experiments matched to the optimized conditions to analyze energy system performance.•The average power density at a given time of the day oscillated above 180 μW/m2.•Prevention of the growth of algae and barnacles contributes to improved system performance.

In this research we used an energy harvesting system based on ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) to absorb the kinetic energy of the ocean waves and generate electricity. The experimental results showed that IPMC materials have many advantages, including softness and durability; they also respond rapidly to wave parameters such as frequency, amplitude, and wavelength. In addition, the 296-day recorded data showed that the average power density generated each day remained stable at approximately 245 μW/m2, the degradation of the IPMC's electrical performance in long-term operation being trivial.

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