Synthesis and high gas sensitivity of tin oxide nanotubes

Semiconductor tin oxide (SnO2) nanotubes have been synthesised in bulk quantities using a sol–gel template (AAO membrane) synthetic technique. The morphology and crystal structure of SnO2 nanotubes were characterised by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The as-prepared SnO2 nanotubes are polycrystalline with an outer diameter of 200 nm, an inner diameter of about 150 nm and a length extending to tens of micrometers. SnO2 nanotube sensors exhibited high sensitivity towards ethanol gas.