Polyaniline/polystyrene single-nanowire devices for highly selective optical detection of gas mixtures

By using spectral analysis in the visible/near-infrared region, we demonstrate a single waveguiding polyaniline/polystyrene nanowire for highly selective detection of gas mixtures with a NH3 detection limit on parts-per-million level and relative humidity sensing ranging from 37% to 84%. The compact and flexible sensing scheme shown here may be attractive for highly selective optical detection in complex chemical or biological environments with a single nanowire. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America