Hollow electrospun V2O5 and Au/V2O5 nanotubes have been successfully synthesized by combining emulsion electrospinning (EE) and post calcination treatment. Immiscible polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/metal salts/dimethylformamide (DMF) solution and polystyrene (PS)/DMF solution are chosen for the EE to form PS@(PVP/metal salts) core-sheath nanofibers, in which PS nanorods were formed and encapsulated within in the PVP/metal salts nanofibers owing to the stretching forces and de-emulsified force during the electrospinning. Excellent sensitivity and rapid response-recovery behaviors against ethanol have been successfully achieved based on our hollow ceramic (V2O5 and Au/V2O5) nanotubes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.