A novel soft metal-polymer composite for multidirectional pressure energy harvesting

A cost-effective 3D sponge composed of rubber and conductive wires is introduced, which generates electric energy by periodic compression. It can be fabricated in a symmetric configuration, hence there is not a preferred surface or a specific direction for compression to obtain the energy harvesting or pressure sensing. The energy conversion occurs due to both triboelectric and electrostatic effects, which benefit from the air gap between polymer and wires.