Porphyrin thin films on fiber optic probes through UV-light induced deposition

The integration of a tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) thin film with optical fiber technology is obtained via a non-conventional procedure consisting in a UV-light induced deposition. This leads to the growth of TPPS thin films right at the core region of the fiber end. The simplicity and cost effectiveness of this procedure, as well as the potential of porphyrins as functional materials, enable the design of novel active and passive in-fiber devices. Here, the presence of intense, narrow bands in the reflected spectra is successfully exploited to detect corrosive or toxic vapors, such as strong volatile acids and bases, at room temperature.