Bio‐Inspired Spatial Encoding in Cellulose‐Based Electroluminescent Textiles for Real‐Time Gas Leak Localization

ABSTRACT Spatially resolved electroluminescent (EL) textiles are highly desirable for flexible hazard detection, yet conventional systems limit real‐time localization of dynamic stimuli. Inspired by insect olfaction, where spatial information emerges from distributed sensing and spatiotemporal signal differences, we report a cellulose‐based EL sensing textile for real‐time gas leak localization via material‐architecture‐governed spatial encoding. Plant‐derived cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) serve as fundamental building blocks, organizing functional components through blending or surface modification and being assembled via wet‐spinning into continuous fibers with hierarchical porosity, flexibility, and volumetric stimulus accessibility essential for rapid gas sensing. Conductive fibers are fabricated through in situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) on CNF surfaces, enabling reversible, gas‐responsive electrical modulation with detection limits of 1 ppm for HCl and 3.6 ppm for NH 3 . Coaxial electroluminescent fibers comprising a PANI@CNF conductive core and ZnS‐embedded CNF shell provide stable light emission over 100 h of continuous operation. Intersections between these fibers form self‐defined units that translate localized gas exposure into spatiotemporally resolved EL patterns, mapping propagation pathways with a naked‐eye detection threshold of 100 ppm, while maintaining stable emission after washing and bending. This work establishes a bio‐inspired, architecture‐driven strategy for smart textiles, highlighting cellulose‐based nanocomposites as key components for next‐generation smart technologies.