Abstract The detailed study of oxygen sensitive materials comprising diiodo-borondipyrromethene dye (I 2 -BODIPY) encapsulated in hydrophobic polymers (Polysulfone, polyphenylene sulphide and fibrous polypropylene) is presented. These materials display strong absorption in the visible region and moderate room temperature phosphorescence in the near infrared region. They exhibit high sensitivity towards oxygen ( τ N2 / τ Air = 5–5.5), high photostability, no cross-sensitivity towards humidity and quick response time in dry gas (10 s) and water (25 s). The current system can be an attractive alternative to the commonly used noble and rare metal based O 2 sensors which use e.g. metalloporphyrins or Ru(II) complexes as indicators.