Synthesis and H2S gas sensing properties of cage-like α-MoO3/ZnO composite

α-MoO3/ZnO composite with a novel cage-like morphology, composed of nanosheets with a thickness of about 25 nm, was synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The cage-like composite was of porous characteristics with a pore size distribution from 4 to 174 nm. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of the cage-like composite was 58.22 m2/g, which was great higher than that of α-MoO3 nanorods (8.94 m2/g). The special structural characteristic of the composite resulted in its excellent H2S sensing properties including very high sensor response, low working temperature and good selectivity.