To increase the photoresponsive and gas sensing properties of ZnO nanofibers under UV illumination, Au nanoparticles were introduced to the ZnO nanofibers (Au/ZnO) using electrospinning technique. It is found that adding Au nanoparticles into the ZnO nanofibers enhances significantly the photoresponse and makes the nanofibers also respond to visible light. The gas sensing performance with the assist of UV irradiation at room temperature was also improved greatly, e.g., the sensor response (SR) for 5 ppm ethanol increases from 0.12 to 0.31 by introducing 0.20 mol% of Au in ZnO nanofibers. The improvement of gas sensing performance is attributed to the enhanced photocatalytic reactions of organic gases on the Au/ZnO nanofibers surface. In addition, the sensitive behaviors of the nanofibers to ethanol, benzene, toluene and acetone under UV irradiation with different wavelengths were investigated and compared as well. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.