A novel method for fabrication of highly oriented polyaniline (PANI) nanowires without removal of the template was developed by combining self-assembly and template synthesis techniques. By using a self-assembly process under inhibition conditions, oriented arrays of PANI nanowires growing out of the nanoporous template were obtained, with nanowire diameters ranging from 110 to 190 run and lengths of several micrometers. The lengths of these wires can be roughly controlled by the polymerization time.