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Research Foundation · Environmental Intelligence

Water Quality
Technologies.

Portable, flexible, multiplexed, and connected sensing systems for chemical ions, toxic metals, environmental parameters, and intelligent water-quality assessment.

Heavy MetalsIon-Selective SensorsLaser-Induced GrapheneFlexible SensorsIoTMachine LearningWater Quality Index
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Overview

From individual ions to intelligent water assessment.

The water-quality portfolio combines electrochemical and ion-selective sensing, functional nanomaterials, flexible substrates, embedded instrumentation, IoT connectivity, and machine-learning-assisted interpretation.

Different sensor interfaces address different classes of contaminants and water-quality indicators, while common instrumentation and data architectures enable portable and connected analysis.

06

Technology Platforms

15+

Measured Parameters

Flexible + Portable

Device Architectures

IoT + AI

Connected Intelligence

Portable ion-selective water-quality sensing platform

Measurement Space

Multiple classes of water-quality information.

Toxic Metals

Cd²⁺ · Pb²⁺ · Cu²⁺ · Hg²⁺

Nutrient & Ionic Species

NO₃⁻ · NH₄⁺ · Cl⁻ · F⁻

Chemical Indicators

pH · Ammonia

Physical Parameters

EC · TDS · Turbidity · Temperature

Integrated Indicators

DO · Multi-Parameter WQI

Technology Portfolio

Six approaches to decentralized water analysis.

The portfolio ranges from selective electrochemical interfaces to multi-parameter intelligent monitoring systems, combining materials, instrumentation, connectivity, and analytics according to the target application.

Multiplexed Heavy-Metal Sensing01

Technology 01

Multiplexed Heavy-Metal Sensing

Cd²⁺ · Pb²⁺ · Cu²⁺ · Hg²⁺

Electrochemistry · AI · IoT

A multiplexed electrochemical sensing platform based on gold-nanoparticle-modified carbon-thread electrodes for simultaneous analysis of toxic heavy-metal ions.

  • Carbon-thread sensing architecture modified with gold nanoparticles.
  • Detection of Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺.
  • Multiplexed electrochemical measurement strategy.
  • CNN-assisted interpretation for intelligent classification.
  • IoT-enabled architecture for connected water-quality monitoring.
4 heavy metalsMultiplexed analysisCNN assisted
View publication →
Temperature-Compensated Ion-Selective Array02

Technology 02

Temperature-Compensated Ion-Selective Array

Nitrate · Ammonium · Chloride

Potentiometry · IoT · Multi-Parameter Sensing

A portable ion-selective array designed for rapid measurement of multiple water-quality ions while accounting for temperature-dependent sensor response.

  • Simultaneous measurement of nitrate, ammonium, and chloride.
  • Temperature compensation for improved field reliability.
  • Portable multi-channel ion-selective measurement system.
  • Approximately 30-second analytical response.
  • Wi-Fi connectivity and Android-based user interface.
3-ion array~30 s responseTemperature compensated
View publication →
Flexible Laser-Induced Graphene Fluoride Sensor03

Technology 03

Flexible Laser-Induced Graphene Fluoride Sensor

Fluoride Detection

LIG · Functional Polymer · Flexible Sensor

A flexible fluoride-sensing platform using laser-induced graphene functionalized with poly(3-aminophenylboronic acid) for selective electrochemical ion detection.

  • Laser-induced graphene electrode architecture.
  • Poly(3-aminophenylboronic acid) functionalization.
  • Flexible and low-cost sensing format.
  • Selective fluoride-ion analysis.
  • Demonstrated using real water samples.
Flexible platformSelective F⁻ sensingReal-water validation
View publication →
PANI-Functionalized Carbon-Cloth pH Sensor04

Technology 04

PANI-Functionalized Carbon-Cloth pH Sensor

pH 2–12

Flexible Electrochemistry · pH Monitoring

A flexible carbon-cloth electrode functionalized with polyaniline for broad-range potentiometric pH measurement in portable water-quality applications.

  • Flexible carbon-cloth sensing substrate.
  • Polyaniline-based pH-responsive interface.
  • Wide operating range from approximately pH 2 to 12.
  • Compatible with low-cost portable readout systems.
  • Suitable for distributed water-monitoring workflows.
pH 2–12Flexible electrodePortable readout
View publication →
MWCNT Carbon-Thread Ammonia Sensor05

Technology 05

MWCNT Carbon-Thread Ammonia Sensor

Ammonia Monitoring

Nanocarbon · Electrochemical Sensing

A carbon-thread-based electrochemical platform enhanced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes for portable ammonia analysis in water-quality monitoring.

  • Carbon-thread electrode architecture.
  • MWCNT-based surface enhancement.
  • Electrochemical ammonia detection.
  • Compact and low-cost sensing format.
  • Designed toward field-deployable environmental monitoring.
MWCNT enhancedCarbon threadField oriented
View publication →
AI-Enabled Water Quality Index Platform06

Technology 06

AI-Enabled Water Quality Index Platform

Multi-Parameter Water Assessment

IoT · Machine Learning · Decision Support

An IoT-connected monitoring system combining conventional water-quality parameters with machine-learning-assisted interpretation and Water Quality Index estimation.

  • Measures pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, TDS, turbidity, and temperature.
  • Multi-parameter acquisition through embedded electronics.
  • IoT-enabled remote monitoring.
  • Machine-learning-supported interpretation.
  • Water Quality Index estimation for simplified decision support.
Multi-parameterIoT connectedML + WQI
View publication →

Integrated Workflow

Sense. Process. Interpret. Connect.

A common systems philosophy links the individual technologies: translate chemistry into measurable signals, condition and process those signals locally, apply intelligent analysis where useful, and deliver actionable results through connected interfaces.

01

Sample

Water is collected from the target source or introduced directly to a field-deployable sensing platform.

02

Selective Sensing

Ion-selective, electrochemical, resistive, or multi-parameter sensors generate analyte-specific responses.

03

Signal Conditioning

Analog front-end electronics stabilize, amplify, filter, and convert raw sensor responses.

04

Embedded Processing

Microcontrollers or portable instruments digitize and process sensor data in real time.

05

AI / ML

Data-driven methods support compensation, classification, prediction, and multi-analyte interpretation.

06

Connected Output

Results are delivered through mobile devices, Wi-Fi, IoT platforms, or field decision-support interfaces.

Beyond Measurement

From sensor readings to environmental intelligence.

Connected water-quality systems combine multiple sensing channels with compensation algorithms, machine learning, and Water Quality Index calculations to move beyond isolated measurements toward actionable environmental information.

AI-enabled intelligent water-quality monitoring platform

01

Temperature Compensation

Correct environmentally induced shifts in sensor response for improved field reliability.

02

Multiplexed Analysis

Interpret multiple contaminants or water-quality parameters within a common platform.

03

Machine Learning

Support classification, prediction, pattern recognition, and complex response interpretation.

04

IoT Connectivity

Enable distributed monitoring, remote access, and longitudinal environmental data collection.

Applications

Water sensing across environmental and operational contexts.

01

Drinking Water

Rapid decentralized screening of ions, toxic contaminants, and general water-quality indicators.

02

Environmental Monitoring

Distributed sensing for lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and other environmental water sources.

03

Agriculture

Water-quality assessment for irrigation, nutrient management, and precision-agriculture workflows.

04

Industrial Water

Portable monitoring for process water, discharge streams, and quality-control applications.

Research Demonstration

See the water-quality platform in action.

The demonstration highlights the integration of sensing, portable instrumentation, embedded electronics, user interaction, and connected environmental monitoring.

Watch on YouTube →

Selected Publications

Research underpinning the water-quality portfolio.

Selected papers directly associated with the sensing technologies and analytical systems presented above.

View all publications →
01

npj Clean Water · 2025

Intelligent multiplexed heavy-metal sensing using electrochemical interfaces and data-driven analysis

DOI · 10.1038/s41545-025-00441-x

View paper →
02

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement · 2026

Temperature-Compensated, IoT-Enabled Portable Ion-Selective Array Device for Multi-Parameter Measurements in Water Samples

DOI · 10.1109/TIM.2026.3677997

View paper →
03

IEEE Sensors Journal · 2023

Flexible Laser-Induced Graphene-Based Electrochemical Sensor for Selective Fluoride Detection

DOI · 10.1109/JSEN.2023.3285664

View paper →
04

IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience · 2022

Flexible electrochemical sensing platform for water-quality monitoring

DOI · 10.1109/TNB.2022.3188605

View paper →
05

Environmental Research · 2022

Carbon-thread and nanocarbon-enabled sensing for environmental water monitoring

DOI · 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115192

View paper →
06

International Conference on Smart Technologies · 2023

IoT and machine-learning-assisted multi-parameter water-quality monitoring

DOI · 10.1109/ICST59744.2023.10460817

View paper →
View all publications →

Water Intelligence at SenSys

Toward integrated multi-analyte water-quality systems.

This technology foundation supports future water-quality platforms integrating multi-analyte sensing, microfluidics, advanced materials, portable instrumentation, intelligent analytics, and field-deployable architectures.

Water sensing can also connect with Soil-on-Chip, precision-agriculture, environmental-monitoring, and advanced manufacturing directions across the broader SenSys research programme.

SenSys Research →Join SenSys →

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