NOVELTY - The energy harvesting device comprises an ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) thin film including a first and a second surface, metal electrodes coupled to the first and the second surface, an energy collector connected to the IPMC thin film to collect energy generated by the IPMC thin film, a load connected to the IPMC thin film to harvest energy generated by the IPMC thin film, and a graphitic coating coupled to the second surface. The metal electrodes are silver nanoparticle coatings that are homogenously dispersed on the first and the second surface.    USE - The device is useful for harvesting energy from fluidic and flow environments, where the harvested energy is useful in aerospace and oceanic applications and to power: remote wireless sensors that are useful in structural health monitoring; micro-electromechanical systems; biological implants; wireless autonomous devices that are useful in wearable electronics and wireless sensor networks; nanoelectromechanical systems; microelectromechanical systems; and actuators for biomedical.    ADVANTAGE - The device is capable of efficiently and economically harvesting the energy, and improves operation speed of the systems.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The energy harvesting device comprises an ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) thin film including a first and a second surface, metal electrodes coupled to the first and the second surface, an energy collector connected to the IPMC thin film to collect energy generated by the IPMC thin film, a load connected to the IPMC thin film to harvest energy generated by the IPMC thin film, and a graphitic coating coupled to the second surface. The metal electrodes are silver nanoparticle coatings that are homogenously dispersed on the first and the second surface. An electric potential develops between the metal electrodes when the IPMC thin film is subjected to a bending motion. The first and second surfaces are: entirely coated with silver nanoparticle coatings; and opposing planar surfaces along a length of the IPMC thin film extending from a first end to a second end. The silver nanoparticle coatings are deposited in channels of the IPMC thin film on the first and second surfaces to form uniform coatings, and have a thickness of less than or equal to 0.1 cm. The IPMC thin film includes fixed anions and mobile cations, where the mobile cations diffuse toward one of the metal electrodes via channels provided by the fixed anions to generate the electric potential between the metal electrodes when the IPMC thin film is hydrated. The IPMC thin film is hydrated using a sodium chloride electrolyte solution with a concentration of 5-35 g/l, is a polymer membrane having dimensions of 0.4-5.2 cm, 0.2-2 cm and 0.1 mm-0.1 cm, weighs of 0.3 g, and has a rectangular shape. The silver nanoparticles have silver (40-100 wt.%). The energy harvesting device is operated at frequencies of 0.2-4.2 Hz.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a schematic view of an energy harvesting system.    Energy harvesting housing (1400)    Energy harvesting element (1402)    Device. (1404)