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.