Timely detection of harmful, poisonous and air pollutant gases is of vital importance to the protection of human beings from exposure to rigorous gases. The development of gas-sensing devices based on sphere-like porous SnO 2 /ZIF-8 nanocomposites is required to overcome this challenge. Nanostructures with high surface area, more porosity and hollow interior provide plenty of active cites for high responses in metal oxide gas sensors. The engineered gas sensors have excellent sensing sensitivity (164), rapid response and recovery times (60, 45 s), and favorable selectivity for NO 2 gases under 300 °C. Consequently, NO 2 gas sensors based on core-shell SnO 2 /ZIF-8 nanospheres are regarded viable capacity industrial applicants. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of Core-shell SnO2/ZIF-8 nanostructures by a via solvothermal method. • High specific surface area, porosity and bimetallic ions sustenance enrich sensing. • ZIF-8 MOF sensor exhibits high selectivity and response towards NO2 gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]