In this paper, we report the synthesis of SnO2/ZnO composite nanofibers via electrospinning method. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/zinc acetate/stannous chloride nanofibers were electrospun using a solution containing PVA, zinc acetate and stannous chloride in distilled-water followed by calcination at 650 degrees C for 2 h, obtaining the related composite nanofibers. The nanofibers were characterized by simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Ethanol sensing of the nanofibers showed a good and desirable sensing behavior such as high sensitivity, quick response and recovery times. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.