Conducting polymer 1-dimensional nanostructures for FET sensors

In this review we have highlighted advantages of 1-dimensional nanostructures for field effect transistor (FET)/chemiresistor based sensors and advantages of conducting polymer as material of construction over other nanomaterials. Here we have ensembled different techniques used for the fabrication, assembly/alignment, functionalization and sensing applications of conducting polymer nanowire/tube/junction based FET sensors for gas and biomolecule detection. The advantages and disadvantages of various fabrication, functionalization, and assembling techniques are discussed. We evaluate how such devices have enabled the achievement of improved sensor performance in terms of high sensitivity, selectivity and low detection limits. Finally, we conclude by highlighting overall merits of different techniques and challenges researchers face in the field of conducting polymer 1-dimensional nanostructures-based sensors and also predict the future direction in which research efforts are likely to flourish. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.