Porous ZnO microbelts were achieved using a facile chemical solution method combined with subsequent calcination. The micro-nanostructures were characterized through X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller N-2 adsorption-desorption analyses, among others. The BET surface area of the porous ZnO microbelts was calculated at 23.0 m(2) g(-1). Furthermore, the gas sensing properties of the as-prepared porous ZnO microbelts were investigated using volatile organic compounds. Compared with ZnO microflowers, the porous ZnO microbelts exhibited higher response with certain organic vapors, such as formaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol. The responses to 100 ppm formaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol were 45.7, 40.6, and 38.4, respectively, at a working temperature of 300 degrees C. The results showed that the porous ZnO microbelts are highly promising candidates for gas sensing applications. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.