A versatile hydrogen gas sensor is fabricated using Pd@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles (CSNPs), which were synthesized through a hydrothermal route. Effect of oxidation behavior of Pd core to hydrogen sensing is also investigated for Pd@ZnO CSNPs. Accordingly, Pd@ZnO-2 sensor (core-shell sample was calcined in argon) demonstrates the best performance with respect to Pd@ZnO-1 (core-shell sample was calcined in air) and pure ZnO. It shows a much higher response (R = R-a/R-g = 22) than those of Pd@ZnO-1 (12) and pure ZnO (7) sensors with faster response and recovery times (1.4 and 7.8 min) to 100 ppm hydrogen at 350 degrees C. In addition, Pd@ZnO-2 sensor owns high selectivity to hydrogen among interfering target gases. Improvement can be attributed to the high content of metallic Pd-0 species in CSNPs as calcined in argon. Thereby, a higher Pd metallic content (77%) still remains in Pd@ZnO-2 compared to Pd@ZnO-1 (56%), which in turn modulates the resistance of sensors as exposed to air and target gas, thus enhancing gas sensing activity. High BET surface area of core-shell materials provides plenty of active sites for accelerating the sensing reactions as well. (c) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.