Wave energy conversion using submerged piezoelectric plates with functionally graded graphene origami-enabled auxetic metamaterial substrates: A hydroelectromechanical study

Ocean wave energy is a vast and largely under-used renewable resource with significant potential to contribute to the global transition away from fossil fuels. This study presents a theoretical investigation of wave energy conversion using submerged piezoelectric plates that incorporate a functionally graded graphene origami-enabled auxetic metamaterial (FG-GOEAM) substrate. A fully coupled hydroelectromechanical model is used based on Kirchhoff plate theory and linear potential flow, accounting for electromechanical coupling, fluid–structure interaction, and circuit dynamics. The governing equations are solved using a hypersingular boundary integral formation combined with a dry-mode expansion approach to capture diffraction, radiation, and scattering effects. We conducted a parametric analysis to examine how energy absorption is impacted by the folding degree and distribution of graphene origami, as well as the selection of piezoelectric materials, submersion depth, and support conditions. The findings demonstrate the potential of functionally graded graphene origami-enabled auxetic metamaterial substrates to tune the dynamic response of piezoelectric wave energy converters and offer insights into their role in improving energy harvesting performance.