National technology: IFBA researcher creates unprecedented reactor for hydrogen production and secures pioneering patent

An innovation with Brazilian DNA has just been registered in the field of renewable energy. Professor and researcher Francislei — who holds a PhD in Biomaterials Engineering and is a professor at the Instituto Federal da Bahia (IFBA) — has developed the world's first U-shaped photoelectrochemical reactor, a technological advancement with the potential to revolutionize the production of sustainable hydrogen. The innovation, which does not require the use of membranes and uses plant-based graphene combined with sunlight, had its patent officially filed by IFBA in May 2024 and published in November of the same year by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), under number BR 102024010097-2 A2.

Affordable and disruptive innovation in the energy transition

Francislei's creation was conceived with a focus on the efficiency and economic viability of generating sustainable hydrogen. The U-shaped reactor enables the separation of high-purity H₂V (green hydrogen) and O₂V (green oxygen) without the need for membranes, which represents a drastic cost reduction in the process. This feature makes it a promising alternative for developing countries seeking clean but affordable energy solutions.

The invention was highlighted at the Technical Scientific Congress of Engineering and Agronomy (CONTECC) in 2023, appearing among more than one hundred submitted works, and consecrated the professor as the winner of the teaching category of the 1st Salvador Campus Award for Research and Extension, in the same edition. With additional training in the Green Hydrogen Course at TH Köln, in Germany, and a Doctor Honoris Causa title from Emill Brunner University, Francislei has accumulated recognition for his commitment to innovation applied to sustainability.

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