Cobalt porphyrin chromophore was doped into soluble polyimide matrix and electrospun into nanofibrous membrane for rapid detection of trace amount of aniline vapor.Smooth and uniform cobalt porphyrin-functionlized nanofibers were obtained through electrospinning process

which indicated that the cobalt porphyrin group did not make the electrospinning conditions and process change.The cobalt porphyrin was highly loaded and uniformly distributed in the obtained nanofibrous membrane and preserved typical photophysical properties of cobalt porphyrin chromophore.When the nanofibrous membrane was exposed to aniline vapor

a distinct UV-Vis spectrum response could be observed.And the UV-Vis spectrum showed regularly change with increasing concentration of aniline vapor

which made the aniline vapor detection achievable.The spectrophotometric response of the nanofibrous membrane was attributed to the formation of the cobalt porphyrinaniline complex upon axial coordination.UV-Vis spectrum was used to further study the detection limit of the nanofibrous membrane toward aniline vapor and the result was found to be 7.82 mg/m3.The sensing membrane also has the advantages of good reproducibility and reusability

it could be seen that the UV-Vis spectrum of the nanofibrous membrane remained nearly unchanged after five cycles of aniline vapor exposure and N2 regeneration.