A SnO2 hierarchical structure was prepared by the calcination of precursor that was synthesized by a hydrothermal method that used carbon fiber as the template. In particular, the SnO2 hierarchical structures were assembled from polycrystalline micro-tubes and single crystalline nanorods. Au nanoparticles were modified on the surface of SnO2 hierarchical structures with a facile chemical reduction method. The gas sensing performances of SnO2 and Au decorated SnO2 hierarchical structures were examined. Test results showed that the Au decorated SnO2 hierarchical structures had a better gas sensing performance than pure SnO2 toward n-butanol. The response of 100 ppm nbutanol was 382 at 260 degrees C. The response and recovery time was 7 s and 2 s. The Au decorated SnO2 hierarchical architectures exhibited excellent selectivity toward n-butanol. The properties of the sample were attributed to the unique crystal structures of SnO2 and the catalysis of Au nanoparticles. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.