There is plenty of interest in being able to develop printed sensors to monitor a variety of environmental conditions. One such aspect in monitoring water conditions for real-time detection of pH levels, lead, nitrates and more. Printed sensors would make this testing more affordable and easier to produce.

At CES 2023, Brewer Science showed its printed water sensors. Produced using printed electronics and new materials, these multi-sensing arrays can be used to provide real-time testing of our water.

Ryan Moss, director of new business development for Brewer Science’s Smart Devices Business Unit, said that Brewer Science’s expertise in materials and sensors as well as its’ long-standing focus on the environment makes it well positioned to meet the needs of this market.

“We are a materials science company, so it was really that materials expertise that served as the impetus nearly 15 years ago to enter the sensor and smart device space,” Moss noted. “Brewer Science’s technical roots run deep as evidenced by our more than 40 years as a technology innovation house and global manufacturer. Our approach combines material science, with sensor expertise and sophisticated print know-how to create next-generation connected devices.

“As a Green Circle Certified Zero Waste to Landfill company for many years, a focus on environmental sensing in general and water quality sensing was a natural fit,” Moss added. “Today we have a team of scientists and engineers dedicated to just water sensing as we move to deliver real-time water sensing solutions to the market.”

Moss pointed out that it takes a lot of areas of expertise to create this sort of sensor, from materials to software.

“We combine proprietary high-grade electronic materials, including inks, sensing membranes, and data delivery systems, into a real-time water sensing platform,” Moss said. “Our approach captures the unique digital signal created by a wide variety of analytes such as lead, nitrates, and pH as water contacts an ionic membrane. Proprietary software then delivers a real-time indication to the user as to relative levels of each analyte.”

Brewer Science’s water sensors are designed for a wide variety of markets, including residential, commercial applications and municipal water systems. The water sensors detect the presence of analytes such as lead, nitrates, and pH, which Moss pointed out are typically the top priorities of customers, adding that the sensors can be customized for other analytes.

“Our sensor platform can be customized to detect the presence of a wide variety of other analytes depending upon the customer’s needs,” Moss said. “This is just one distinguishing feature of our approach. Current products are cumbersome, requiring users to take a sample and transfer it to a lab, followed by a wait time of often a few weeks before results are available. We simplify the entire process by providing real-time data to the user so they can act right away if something falls outside of their established acceptance criteria.

“We pair our own printed sensor technology with proprietary sensing membranes to capture unique digital signals created by each analyte,” added Moss. “Brewer Science’s proprietary machine learning software then interprets the data and conveys it via the cloud to the user.”

Brewer Science showcased its water sensor technology for the first time at CES 2023 in January as just one of several flagship events scheduled throughout the year, including LOPEC 2023.

“We will debut the sensors to our European customers at LOPEC 2023 later this month in Munich,” Moss reported. “A demonstration is planned at our booth and engineers will be on-site to present technical talks and answer questions about our technology.

“We are working now with commercial partners to test and provide feedback as we move expeditiously to commercial availability later this year,” he added. “The number of slots for early adoption partners is limited and we still have a few opportunities available for companies to work with us to design-in Brewer Science technology into their next-generation products.”

Moss noted that this is a big year for Brewer Science as it marks the debut of these real-time water quality monitoring sensors to industry. 

“For this reason, exhibiting at CES earlier this year was strategic,” he said. “We are long-standing members of OE-A (Organic & Printed Electronics Association), so being invited to exhibit at a printed electronics-themed pavilion on the Smart Home show floor was an extraordinary opportunity. Brewer Science representatives took to the show floor each day to present technical talks on the features and benefits of our water sensors.”

He said that CES attendees were intrigued by the possibilities.

“Most people were curious how this technology will be implemented,” said Moss. “We are currently looking for integration partners all along the value chain for our water sensor technology. Our sensors are designed to be deployed easily to enhance existing systems and are particularly suited for home equipment, such as a home filtration system, water heater, or even faucets, so there was a lot to talk about.

“This event was very well attended and a great showcase for our unique water quality sensor technology,” he added. “Water sensors currently on the market are limited to leak detection and/or the presence of water. Our technology caught peoples’ attention in that we can monitor ionic conductivity, pH, and contaminants like lead at ppb levels in real-time. So, we are extremely pleased with the feedback and interest we got from CES 2023. Based on a very successful CES 2023, we are already in discussions with the organizer for an even larger show presence and more comprehensive display of Brewer Science sensor technology at CES 2024.”