Core-sheath CdS and Polyaniline (PANI) coaxial nanocables were fabricated by an electrochemical method, using an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane as the template. The morphology and optical properties of the obtained nanocables were investigated by several techniques. The photoluminescence (PL) of the US nanowire was observed to be significantly enhanced by the outer PANI nanotube. We propose a photo-generated charge transfer (PGCT) mechanism from outer PANI into the CdS core to explain this enhancement effect. The PGCT mechanism is different from those usually invoked for PL enhancement of nano-semiconductors. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.