Solvent-free infiltration method to prepare mesoporous SnO2 templated by SiO2 nanoparticles for ethanol sensing

Mesoporous SnO2 has been successfully prepared by the solvent-free infiltration method using SiO2 nanoparticles as template. The combined characterizations of X-ray diffraction pattern, nitrogen sorption isothermal, and transmission electron microscopy indicate the successful preparation of mesoporous SnO2. It is found that the mesoporous SnO2 exhibits high response, good selectivity, fast response and recovery rate for detection of ethanol, which are much better than that of bulky SnO2 prepared in the absence of SiO2 nanoparticles.