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Abstract: WO3·0.33H2O nanoplates have been synthesized with p-nitrobenzoic acid as a structure-directing agent through a facile hydrothermal method. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM results showed that most of the products had a hexagonal morphology with a lateral size of 500–1000nm and a thickness of ∼80nm. The XRD result showed that the products were orthorhombic WO3·0.33H2O. The photocatalytic and gas-sensing properties of the WO3·0.33H2O nanoplates were studied. The products exhibited a high degradation activity for methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet light irradiation, and a high sensitivity to cyclohexene. The facile preparation method and the improved properties derived from the plate-shaped nanostructures are significant in the synthesis and future applications of functional nanomaterials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]