Journal of Textile Research ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1): 259-267.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20250306802

• Comprehensive Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research status and development trends of fiber-based colorimetric gas sensors

WANG Jiaxi1,2, YUAN Guoshu2, CHEN Xiaoyu2, CHEN Shuangting1,2, MIAO Ying1,2, FU Chiyu1,2, TANG Wenyang1,2()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, Hubei 430200, China
    2. College of Textile Science and Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, Hubei 430200, China
  • Received:2025-03-31 Revised:2025-11-11 Online:2026-01-15 Published:2026-01-15
  • Contact: TANG Wenyang E-mail:wytang@wtu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Significance Fiber-based colorimetric gas sensor is a new sensing technology that enables visual detection of gas pollutants based on color changes, which has the advantages of portability, high sensitivity and low cost. As air pollution becomes a growing problem, conventional gas detection methods rely on expensive equipment and specialized personnel for real-time monitoring. This paper systematically review the sensing principles, response materials, and preparation methods (such as impregnation method, electrospinning method, etc.) of fiber-based colorimetric sensors and their applications in the detection of chemical warfare agents, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia gas (NH3), together with the challenges and future development directions of fiber-based colorimetric sensors. This research provides an important theoretical basis and technical reference for the development of high-performance and wearable gas sensors, and is of great significance for promoting the development of environmental safety monitoring, industrial protection and smart wearable devices.

Progress This paper systematically reviews the latest progress and representative achievements of fiber-based colorimetric gas sensors. In terms of materials, a variety of response systems based on dyes (e.g., chlorophenol red, bromocresol violet), noble metals (silver, gold nanoparticles) and fluorescent probes have been developed, which significantly improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor. In terms of preparation process, electrospinning, wet spinning, freeze-drying and novel spinning technologies have been innovatively used for constructing fiber-based sensors with high specific surface area. In terms of applications, detection of toxic gases such as chemical warfare agents, NH3, H2S and have been achieved, and the potential of wearable applications was demonstrated through patterned textile integration. Representative achievements include LiCl/cellulose-based fibers for NH3 sensing, ionic liquid/lead acetate nanofiber yarns for H2S monitoring, and so on. These advances provide an important foundation for the development of portable and intelligent fiber-based gas sensing devices.

Conclusion and Prospect This study systematically reviews the latest research progress of fiber-based colorimetric gas sensors, focusing on their application potential in the fields of environmental monitoring and wearable devices. The results show that fiber-based colorimetric gas sensors show excellent performance in the detection of harmful gases such as NH3 and H2S. However, there are still three major problems in current research: the lack of environmental stability of colorimetric sensing materials, the immaturity of mass production processes, and the susceptibility to cross-interference when multifunctional integration. Based on the existing results, this paper puts forward three important points: fiber-based sensors have the potential to be served as portable gas-monitoring devices, material and method innovation is the key to breaking through performance bottlenecks, and intelligence is the future development direction. For instance, a proposed strategy can be conducted by strategically integrating heterogeneous responsive materials and engineering multi-analyte recognition units. These innovative platforms enable simultaneous monitoring of gaseous species, ionic compounds, and biomolecules within complex environmental and biological matrices. Also, incorporating advanced flexible electronics, microfluidic networks, and wireless communication modules can significantly enhance the functional capabilities of fiber-based colorimetric sensors. In terms of application, fiber-based colorimetric sensors with customizable designs hold significant potential for addressing interindividual variability in physiological monitoring. By controlling sensor composition and response properties, these wearable platforms enable real-time, continuous tracking of critical biomarkers, including disease-related analytes, therapeutic drug levels, and nutritional metabolites, which will provide more accurate diagnostic criteria and treatment effect evaluation methods for personalized medicine and facilitate the development of precision medicine.

Key words: colorimetric sensing, gas response, fibrous material, textile-based gas sensing, colorimetric responsive material, gas monitoring

CLC Number: 

  • TS101.3

Tab.1

Typical colorimetric responsive materials and their ability to identify gas types and color reactions"

响应材料 材料名称 识别气体种类 颜色反应
指示染料 氯酚红 NH3 橘黄色→紫色
醋酸铅 H2S 白色→黄色
花青素 NH3 紫色→蓝绿色
溴甲酚紫 CH2O 蓝色→黄色
溴百里酚蓝 NH3 黄色→蓝色
甲基红 HCL 黄色→红色
贵金属 银 H2S 银色→黑色
金 H2S 金色→棕色/黑色
银 NH3 银色→黑色
荧光探针 二氨基荧光素(DAF-2) NO 无荧光→绿色荧光
萘二甲酰亚胺衍生物 C6H6 蓝色→绿色
香豆素衍生物 SO2 蓝色→绿色

Fig.1

Schematic diagram of colorimetric sensing mechanism based on ring opening-closing reaction"

Fig.2

Schematic diagram of colorimetric sensing mechanism based on ligand exchange"

Fig.3

Schematic diagram of colorimetric sensing mechanism based on phase change reaction"

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