A porous thin film of SnO2 prepared on an alumina substrate by using h
ydrothermally synthesized SnO2 sol shows excellent sensitivity to dilu
te H2S in air together with good response transient characteristics wh
en calcined at 700-degrees-C. The pore size of the film increases unif
ormly with calcination temperature, and this well developed porous str
ucture appears to be responsible for the excellent H2S sensing charact
eristics.