Sensor and method for making the same

1. A sensor, comprising:

at least two electrodes;

at least one nanowire having at least two segments extending substantially laterally between the at least two electrodes, whereby a junction or connection is formed between the at least two segments; and

a sensing material having at least two states positioned adjacent to the junction or connection, and adjacent to at least a portion of each of the at least two segments.

2. The sensor as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensing material is selected from a material having a resistance changeable between at least a high and a low resistance state, a plurality of nanoparticles coated with spacer ligands, and combinations thereof.

3. The sensor as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensing material has more than two states, including a continuum of states.

4. The sensor as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an insulating material established between the at least two segments at the connection, wherein the sensing material is positioned adjacent to the insulating material and at least a portion of each of the at least two segments.

5. The sensor as defined in claim 4 wherein the at least two segments are formed of a conductive material selected from metals and semiconductor materials.

6. The sensor as defined in claim 4 wherein the sensing material is selected from a material having a resistance changeable between at least a high resistance state and a low resistance state, a plurality of nanoparticles coated with spacer ligands, and combinations thereof.

7. The sensor as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the at least two segments has a first conductivity type or is formed of a first material, and an other of the at least two segments has a second conductivity type or is formed of a second material that is different from the first material.

8. The sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein the first conductivity type is one of a p-type and an n-type, and wherein the second conductivity type is an other of the n-type and the p-type.

9. The sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein the sensing material is selected from a material having a resistance changeable between at least a high resistance state and a low resistance state, a plurality of nanoparticles coated with spacer ligands, and combinations thereof.

10. A sensing method, comprising:

exposing a sensing material having at least two states to a reaction, the sensing material being positioned adjacent to a junction or connection formed between at least one nanowire having at least two segments and adjacent to at least a portion of each of the at least two segments, the at least one nanowire extending laterally between at least two electrodes, wherein the exposing generates a measurable property; and

detecting the measurable property.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the measurable property is heat, temperature, resistance, or combinations thereof.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the measurable property causes a change in a resistance path that is in parallel with the junction or connection.

13. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the measurable property is indicative of the presence of a chemical reaction, the absence of a chemical reaction, a quantity of the chemical reaction, or combinations thereof.

14. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the sensing material is selected from a material having a resistance changeable between at least a high resistance state and a low resistance state, a plurality of nanoparticles coated with spacer ligands, and combinations thereof.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein the sensing material includes the plurality of nanoparticles coated with spacer ligands, and wherein the sensing material undergoes a Mott transition when exposed to heat.