Thin films of RbCl and AgCl are prepared using vacuum evaporation tech
nique and are characterized for Cl-2 effect through a number of techni
ques like XRD analysis, optical absorption and ellipsometry measuremen
ts. The time-series characterization with these techniques do show the
expected differences with alternate pulsed chlorine and ambient air e
xposures. These are used as sensitive films on planar optical waveguid
e for Cl-2 gas. It is observed that, as cladding, they possess very go
od and selective chlorine sensing behaviour in ambient air over a wide
concentration range of few (3) ppm-1.5%. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.
V.