Dielectrophoretically assembled polymer nanowires for gas sensing

We measured the electronic properties and gas sensing response of nanowires containing segments of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) that were synthesized using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. The nanowires have a “striped” structure of gold-PEDOT/PSS-gold and are typically 8 μm long (1 μm-6 μm-1 μm for each section, respectively) and 220 nm in diameter. Dielectrophoretic assembly was used to position single nanowires on pre-fabricated gold electrodes. A polymer conductivity of 11.5 ± 0.7 S/cm and a contact resistance of 27.6 ± 4 kΩ were inferred from resistance measurements of nanowires of varying length and diameter. When used as gas sensors, the wires showed a resistance change of 10.5%, 9%, and 4% at the saturation vapor pressure of acetone, methanol and ethanol, respectively. Sensor response and recovery were rapid (seconds) with excellent reproducibility in time and across devices. “Striped” template-grown nanowires are thus intriguing candidates for use in electronic nose vapor sensing systems.