GO incorporated SnO2 nanotubes as fast response sensors for ethanol vapor in different atmospheres

Abstract Tin oxide (SnO2) is one of the best metal oxide material for gas sensor applications. Pristine SnO2 nanotubes (NTs) were prepared by one-step electrospinning technique, and composite graphene oxide doped SnO2 NTs (GO-SnO2 NTs) were fabricated by dipping SnO2 NTs in a GO solution with suitable annealing treatment. In this work, the influence of GO on the ethanol vapor detecting performance of SnO2 NTs was analyzed in dry and wet atmospheres. The GO incorporate SnO2 NTs showed good response (85.3) towards 100 ppm ethanol with an optimum working temperature of 300 °C in dry atmosphere and in the wet atmosphere also it showed improved ethanol response (51.75) compared to pristine SnO2 NTs. So, incorporation of GO on the surface of SnO2 NTs can be an effective method to enhance the ethanol sensitivity in both atmospheres.