Rafael Nogueira Bonifacio

He holds a Ph.D. in Science / Materials (IPEN/USP 2013), a Masters degree in Science / Materials (IPEN/USP 2010), a specialization in Environmental Management / Environmental Engineering (Oswaldo Cruz 2009), a degree in Materials and Chemistry Engineering (Mackenzie 2006), and a technical degree in Printing Processes (SENAI-SP 1998), with experience in industry.He has conducted research on:(1) the properties of liquid inks used in the graphic industry (1998);(2) the modification of PHB (a bacterially derived biopolymer) to enable its processing by extrusion and injection using conventional polymer equipment (2006);(3) the mechanical properties of bioceramics (2008);(4) the technological, economic, and environmental feasibility of using hydrogen as a fuel in Brazil (2009);(5) the development of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology, focusing on: electrocatalysts; catalyst layers; gas diffusion layers; membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs); with an emphasis on nanostructured materials, MEA structures, efficiency improvement, and durability; as well as the development of scalable manufacturing processes. As part of this work, in 2010 he participated in two applied research projects at IPEN (hydrogen and ethanol PEMFC generators);(6) between 2015 and 2019, he carried out a research project in a small company (PIPE-FAPESP), aiming at the electrochemical conversion of glycerol in derivatives through in situ surface monitoring on electrode surface, also targeting energy cogeneration; (7) between 2022 and 2024 completed a postdoctoral fellowship studying graphene and graphene-based compounds, including synthesis methods, processing, and applications of these materials in clean energy and green chemistry. In 2013, through his doctoral research, he achieved a "cost of MEAs per kilowatt of installed PEMFC system" 13 lower than the state-of-the-art value disclosed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that year, and this cost was aligned with the DOE's 2015 target.He is inventor in 6 granted patents (among other filings) and has 8 published scientific articles, with others pending publication. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)