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.