NiO/ZnO nanoplates were fabricated for gas sensors. Gas sensing characteristics toward ethanol, CO, H-2. H2S, acetone, and 1, 2-propanediol were measured, respectively. Our results show that the sensing performance is significantly improved in the NiO/ZnO nanoplate gas sensor as compared with the NiO gas sensor, which was ascribed to the decoration effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface. We also found that the NiO/ZnO nanoplate gas sensor exhibited higher sensitivity to ethanol gas than other gases (CO, H-2, H2S, acetone, and 1, 2-propanediol) at 400 degrees C, indicating good selectivity of ethanol sensing. Moreover, the NiO/ZnO nanoplate gas sensor presents fast response time of 2.1 s and fast recovery time of 4.1 s. These results suggest that NiO/ZnO nanoplates are promising for gas sensor. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.