Hollow hierarchical SnO2-ZnO composite nanofibers with heterostructure based on electrospinning method for detecting methanol

SnO2-ZnO composite nanofibers were synthesized by an electrospinning method in this study. The structural composition and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and N2 physical adsorption. The results indicated that hollow hierarchical SnO2-ZnO composite nanofibers having mesopore structure formed after sintering at 600 °C for 3 h. The gas sensor prepared by the SnO2-ZnO composite nanofibers exhibited good selectivity to methanol in the presence of ethanol, acetone, formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene and benzene at the optimum operating temperature of 350 °C. The response and recovery time to 10 ppm methanol were about 20 s and 40 s, respectively. The growth mechanism of the hollow hierarchical nanofibers was discussed, as well as the methanol adsorption–desorption mechanism.