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Thin film composites consisting of tellurium chain-like nanostructures embedded in a poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, were prepared using a two step approach. In the first step, tellurium nanoparticles which self-assembled into nanochains have been prepared in high yield through thermal evaporation and deposition of Te bulk powder in a horizontal tube furnace. The obtained nano-chains were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis, and Raman spectroscopy. Experimental results evidenced that Te nanoparticles with a diameter in the range 40-100nm assembled spontaneously to form novel chain-like nanostructures 200-600nm in length. In a second step, PVA-Te nanochains composite thin films have been prepared by spin-coating the aqueous solution of the polymer and the pre-synthesized Te nanochains. The optical gas sensing properties of such a novel hybrid composite film were tested upon exposure to volatile organic compounds samples, as methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol. 

oxide nanoparticles, vapour deposition, XRD, TEM, sensor.