SnO2 dandelions-like architectures that composed of numerous one-dimensional tetragonal prism nanorods were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method with the help of the surfactant poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). The structure and morphology of resulting samples were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results show that diameter of as-synthesized nanorods are less than 50 nm. The sensors fabricated from the SnO2 nanorods exhibited good sensitivity, high selectivity and rapid response and recovery times to ethanol vapors at 280 degrees C. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.