Conducting polymer modified flexible and highly stable hydrovoltaic devices

Abstract

Various energy conversion devices have attracted much attention due to the rapid development of wearable microsensors and the increasing demand for continuous power supply. Among them, improving the performance of evaporation-based hydrovoltaic devices remains a meaningful endeavor. Here, we developed a conductive polymer modified flexible hydrovoltaic power generation device. By arranging the conducting polymer between the flexible substrate and the nanopore channel, the device can voltage output of 1 V and deliver more than 12 μA of current. Due to the durable attachment of the nanomaterials to the substrate, the device maintained over 60% of its electrical output capacity even after being immersed in water for 2 weeks. Improved substrate conductivity leads to an increase in over three times the current output. Furthermore, this device's output is influenced by changes in humidity, making it a viable respiratory monitoring sensor. The integration of polymer conductive materials has led to improved electrical output performance of hydrovoltaic devices, expanding their potential for applications.