Scientist from Bahia develops photoelectrochemical reactor for Sustainable Hydrogen

In the global energy transition scenario, sustainable hydrogen is emerging as a strategic solution to reduce carbon emissions. In Brazil, the production of this clean fuel is expected to reach between 0.6 and 1.1 million tons per year by 2030, with 60% of this volume destined for domestic consumption, according to the World Economic Forum. In this context, a promising innovation was developed by Dr. Francislei Santos, from the Instituto Federal da Bahia (IFBA), Salvador Campus. He created a U-shaped photoelectrochemical reactor, designed to produce green hydrogen (H2V) at a lower cost and with greater sustainability, eliminating the need for membranes that normally separate gases during electrolysis.

Innovative technology with plant graphene

The reactor, which uses sunlight as its main source of energy, promotes chemical reactions that separate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, without resorting to aggressive chemicals such as potassium hydroxide. This innovation represents a significant advance, since the elimination of membranes reduces costs and avoids the generation of contaminants, making the process more viable for large-scale production. Furthermore, the system uses plant-based graphene, which improves process efficiency.

“The reactor is a superior solution in terms of efficiency, sustainability and safety. It operates at a lower cost, uses renewable energy sources and eliminates the need for membranes,” explains Santos. Initial tests, carried out at Normal Temperature and Pressure (CNTP) conditions, demonstrated successful photoelectrochemical reactions, with Raman spectroscopic analyses confirming the properties of the plant-based catalyst.

The next phase of the project, already patented and supported by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and Catalisa ICT of Sebrae Nacional, will include the analysis of the purity of the gases produced, using gas chromatography to validate the quality of the green hydrogen generated.