Preparation of band gap tunable SnO2 nanotubes and their ethanol sensing properties

SnO(2) nanotubes have been prepared via a facile hydrothermal method at low temperatures using polycarbonate (PC) membrane as a hard template. The walls of as-prepared SnO(2) nanotubes are composed of fine nanocrysalline particles and the size of SnO(2) nanocrystals could be modified by changing reaction temperature. Formation mechanism of SnO(2) nanotubes is also discussed according to the experimental results. Cathodoluminescence properties of the SnO(2) product indicated that the band gap of the nanostructures increase from 3.75 eV with a particle size 5.6 nm to 3.99 eV with a particle size 3.3 nm. The as-prepared SnO(2) nanotubes were found to show enhanced gas-sensing activity and may be used as a candidate for the fabrication of gas sensors.