A thin film dissolved oxygen sensor was fabricated by trapping erythrosin B in a sol-gel matrix. No phosphorescence was observed when the sensor was immersed in water. Very weak phosphorescence was observed when erythrosin B was dissolved in aqueous ethanol and acetone solutions. However, fluorescence at 590nm, which was efficiently quenched by dissolved oxygen, was observed from the doped sol-gel sensor in water. A singlet oxygen feedback mechanism was proposed. Good sensitivity and stability were observed for this detector. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.