Self-assembled superstructure of SnO2/ZnO composite was synthesized by using alcohol-assisted hydrothermal method gas sensing properties of the material were investigated by using a static test system. The structure and morphology of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The diameter of the SnO2 nanorods was about 40 nm with a length of about 300 nm, SnO2 nanorods and ZnO nanosheets interconnect each other to form a superstructure. The gas sensing properties of superstructure SnO2/ZnO composite with different content of ZnO were investigated. Furthermore, the superstructure SnO2/ZnO composite sensor is characterized at different operating temperatures and its long-term stability in response to ethanol vapor is tested over a period of 3 months. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.