Rapid selective detection of formaldehyde by hollow ZnSnO3 nanocages

We report a successful synthesis of unique ZnSnO3 nanocages with high specific surface area as a novel sensing material to formaldehyde via a simple template-free hydrothermal process. These ZnSnO3 nanocages have hollow interiors, and are used for detecting formaldehyde gas. The hollow ZnSnO3 nanocages are demonstrated to show high gas response, short response and recovery time, excellent selectivity, and good repeatability and stability even at low concentrations to formaldehyde gas. Such a development of the hollow architectures may open up an avenue to further enhance sensing performances of ZnSnO3 nanostructures for on-site detection of harmful gases.