A novel toluene sensor based on ZnO–SnO2 nanofiber web

We proposed in the present work that large-scale synthesis of sensitive ZnO–SnO2 nanofibres which can be obtained via a simple electrospinning method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) showed the average diameter of ZnO–SnO2 nanofibres ranging between 100 and 200 nm, the mixture of wurtzite (ZnO) and rutile (SnO2) structure in the composite fibers. The sensitivity of the obtained ZnO–SnO2 nanofibres to toluene was also investigated. The results showed that under optimal conditions, the calibration curve of response versus toluene concentration was linear in the range of 10–300 ppm, the response and recovery time were only several seconds, and sensitivity for toluene was desirable.