A chemical detector for detecting predetermined chemicals. The chemical
detector includes an optical fiber and a polymer having a high fractional
free volume higher than about 0.1 that clads a length of the optical
fiber. The optical fiber is arranged within an optical resonator. The
chemical detector further includes a coherent light source that excites
the optical resonator and a chemical signature detector that detects a
predetermined chemical based upon a change in a resonance attenuation or
refractive index of the optical fiber caused by absorption of the
predetermined chemical into the high intrinsic microporosity polymer
cladding of the fiber.