Fabrication of an Optical Sensor Based on Eosin-Y-Doped Electrospun Fibers for Ammonia Detection via Wavelength Shifts

This research presents a simple and effective technique to fabricate an optical sensor for ammonia detection, leveraging emission wavelength shifts as the sensing mechanism. The sensor comprises a cellulose acetate matrix doped with Eosin-Y, which serves as the electrospinning material. Photoluminescent micro/nanofibers were successfully fabricated using electrospinning and were stimulated by a 380 nm central wavelength LED. The Eosin-Y-doped electrospun fiber membranes exhibited a red emission peak at 580 nm, allowing ammonia to be detected in the linear concentration range of 0-500 ppm. The experimental results demonstrated a high sensitivity of 8.11, with a wavelength shift sensitivity of 0.029 nm/ppm in response to ammonia concentration changes. This optical sensing method effectively mitigates the influence of fluctuations in excitation light intensity, offering improved reliability. The Eosin-Y-containing electrospun fibers show great potential as a practical sensing material for detecting ammonia gas concentrations with high precision, supporting diverse applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes.