a b s t r a c t This paper focuses on the capabilities and development prospects of nanostructured metal oxides (MOX) representing the most versatile and richest class of materials in terms of electronic structure and structural, chemical, and physical properties. MOX nano-materials with controlled composition, surface terminations, and crystalline structures to be used as chemical sensors as a new area in analytical chem-istry and instrument engineering are discussed. Their principles of operation, and basic characteristics are outlined and main applications of MOX sensor technology are presented.