Spinel MgAl2O4 thin films have been coated on phi 75-mu m single crystal sapphire fibers and sapphire wafers by low-temperature (700 degrees C) firing of (Mg2+, Al3+)-chelated polymeric precursor films. The MgAl2O4 coating was demonstrated to be chemically stable on sapphire substrate at temperatures as high as 1200 degrees C. No evidences of solid state reactions or ion diffusion between the MgAl2O4 and sapphire layers were found by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy examinations for the samples annealed at 1200 degrees C for 672 h. The refractive indices of the MgAl2O4 films fired at 1000 degrees C and 1200 degrees C were close to the index of MgAl2O4 single crystal but slightly smaller than that of the sapphire fiber. The MgAl2O4 thin film-coated sapphire fiber exhibited a dramatically reduced numerical aperture and improved preservation of transmitting light intensity as compared to the uncoated fiber. Results of this study demonstrate that the MgAl2O4 thin film is suitable for sapphire fiber cladding for high temperature applications. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.