We successfully prepared one-dimensional (Ba, La)SnO3 (BLSO)-ZnO heterostructures for gas sensing applications, by sputter deposition of BLSO ultra-thin films onto ZnO nanowire templates. The BLSO shell layer exhibits polycrystalline morphology; electron microscope images revealed that BLSO particles were homogeneously distributed over the surface of the ZnO underlayer, and the diameters of the BLSO particles ranged from 8 to 18 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum of the BLSO-ZnO heterostructure exhibited a UV emission band, together with a distinct visible-light emission band. The presence of many depleted ultra-thin BLSO particles, and the occurrence of electron depletion at the BLSO-ZnO interface, might affect the observed resistance responses to test gases. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.