Synthesis and characterization of meso-porous Au-modified SnO2 fibers using natural silk with enhanced sensitivity for n-butanol

Meso-porous SnO 2 fibers were prepared via hydrothermal method, and natural silk was used as bio-template. Au nanoparticles served as the sensitizer were prepared on the surface of these SnO 2 fibers to further enhance the properties of gas sensing. Results show that these Au-modified products presented high surface area of 168.66 m 2 /g and meso-porous structure, and these fibers were composed of nanosized SnO 2 and Au particles with the size of about 7 ± 0.5 nm and 5 ± 0.5 nm, respectively. Gas sensing properties of these synthesized pristine products and Au-loaded fibers were investigated. Results show that these Au-modified SnO 2 fibers exhibited remarkably enhanced sensing performance to n -butanol with high response, good selectivity and good stability. The gas sensing mechanism was discussed from the effects of meso-porous structure, high surface area and Au nanoparticle catalytic activity.