Preparation of porous flower-shaped SnO2 nanostructures and their gas-sensing property

Porous flower-like tin oxide (SnO2) nanostructure is prepared by annealing of the flower-like tin sulfur (SnS2) nanostructures. The morphology and crystal structure of the flower-like SnO2 nanostructures are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The average SnO2 crystallite size is about 6.1 nm. The as-prepared porous flower-like SnO2 nanostructures exhibit a good response and reversibility to some organic gases, such as ethanol and n-butanol. The sensor responses to 100 ppm ethanol and n-butanol are 42.6 and 77.2, respectively, at a working temperature of 240 °C. In addition, the sensors exhibit a good response to methanol, 2-propanol, and acetone. The relationship between the gas-sensing properties and the microstructure of the as-prepared flower-like SnO2 nanostructures is also investigated.