Three-dimensional SnO2 microstructures assembled by porous nanosheets and their superior performance for gas sensing

•SnO2 microstructures were fabricated by a convenient hydrothermal method.•The three-dimensional SnO2 microstructures were built by porous nanosheets.•SnO2 microstructure shows excellent gas sensing performances.

Nowadays, developing a simple, efficient, and low-cost route for synthesizing three-dimensional (3D) micro/nanostructures has become the research focus of nanomaterials. In this work, 3D SnO2 microstructures assembled by nanosheets were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis combined with subsequent heat treatment. The morphology and crystal structure of the SnO2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The as-prepared tin oxide samples show 3D hierarchical structures assembled with two-dimensional nanosheets. After sintering at 500 °C, the sample has better crystallinity of SnO2 with a larger specific surface area of 62.5 m2/g than that (24.1 m2/g) of commercial SnO2 materials. The 3D SnO2 microstructures have been studied for ethanol gas sensing, showing good response–recovery performance, high sensitivity and excellent long-term stability and repeatability even after 4 months. The results demonstrate that 3D SnO2 microstructures are promising for application as a gas sensor material.

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