Ferrocenylenesilylene polymers as coatings for tapered optical-fiber gas sensors

In this paper we report the use of ferrocenylenesilylene polymers as coatings for tapered optical-fiber sensors. The principle of operation of this device is based upon environmentally induced changes in the refractive index of the polymer layer which change the power transmitted through the tapered fiber. The results for two sensor arrays fabricated using the ferrocenylenesilylene polymer [(eta (5)-C-5 H-4)Fe(eta (5)-C5H4)MePhSi](m) and copolqmer ( [(eta (5)-C5H4)Fe(eta (5)-C-5 H-4) SiPhMe](n)[(eta (5)-C-5 H-4)Fe(eta (5)-C-5 H-4)Me2Si](m) are presented. We also show that the sensitivity of this device is a function of the taper beat length.