Marktech Optoelectronics named a 2024 Best of Sensors Awards finalist

The awards programme, presented by Sensors Converge and Fierce Electronics, honours the best in sensor technologies, the sensor ecosystem, people, and companies.

Deep UVC light sources play a crucial role in pollution and water quality sensors, including nutrient/nitrate sensors, COD sensors, and NDUV gas sensors, as well as continuous emission monitors (CEMs) and ozone analysers. The World Health Organization reports that poor air quality, largely due to human activities, leads to nearly seven million premature deaths worldwide yearly. 'Criteria pollutants' such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter are notorious for their adverse health effects and damage to crops and ecosystems. Ozone also has a significant impact on the Earth's climate. Access to safe drinking water, a key WHO goal, remains a challenge for billions, and water quality sensors are instrumental in achieving clean, potable water supplies for all.

Many current water quality sensors and emission monitors use Mercury (Hg) vapour lamps, which have their limitations. They require warm-up periods, cannot be pulsed, and produce high heat, leading to sensor lens fouling. The broader spectrum has higher UV wavelengths prone to cause skin cancer. In contrast, Marktech Optoelectronics’ deep UVC LEDs, developed in partnership with Silanna offer an ideal solution. They have low heat output, eliminating lens fouling in water quality sensing. They do not contain toxic compounds, can be instantly turned on and off, and their pulsing capability further extends their long lifespan. These advantages make the product a safe, efficient, and compact solution for various applications.

The inclusion of a SiC UVC detector enables monitoring of the light output from the LEDs, which is important since deep UV light is invisible to human eyes. The company also manufacture separate SiC photodiode detectors to measure the amount of UVC light passing through water, wastewater, ballast water, food, medicine, blood, or other mediums. A solar-blind SiC photodiode is essential to UVC water purifiers and ultraviolet germicidal (UVGI) disinfection systems. The solar-blind aspect prevents visible, ambient light from affecting measurements. NSF/ANSI 55 Class A sets the minimum standards for UV water treatment systems, requiring them to include a UV detector.

"It's an honour to see our 235nm and 255nm Deep UVC LEDs and detectors recognised as a finalist in the prestigious Cleantech/Sustainability category of the Best of Sensors Awards 2023. We believe these new UVC light sources and SiC photodiode detectors are an enabling technology that will lead to breakthroughs in water quality sensing, gas analysis, air disinfection, wound healing, spectroscopy, water purification, surgical instrument sterilisation, surface sanitisation, cold pasteurisation, medical diagnostics, and other ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) applications. This recognition reaffirms our unwavering commitment to engineering excellence, product innovation, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of photonics technologies. We aim to continue our mission to develop high-performance, reliable solutions that meet the evolving needs of the cleantech and sustainability sectors. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Silanna UV and Marktech Optoelectronics teams, whose passion and expertise made this recognition possible, and to Sensors Converge and Fierce Electronics for acknowledging our contribution to the sensor ecosystem,” said Mark Campito, CEO, Marktech Optoelectronics.

Charlene Soucy, Senior Director, Technology – Sensors & Electronics, said: “The innovation this year surpassed other years with new, innovative technologies as well as technologists doing groundbreaking work in the field of design engineering. We congratulate the finalists on their accomplishments and look forward to seeing who the judges select as the best next month.”

Submissions were judged based on the value to the marketplace, the impact of the problems it solves or issues it addresses, and the uniqueness of the design. Award winners will be announced on 21st June at Sensors Converge.