Zinc　stannates　(Zn2SnO4)　with　different　morphologies　and　crystal　structures　were　synthesized　via　low-temperature　hydrothermal　method　in　the　presence　of　various　alkaline　mineralizers.　Zn2SnO4　generally　crystallizes　into　an　inverse　spinel　crystal　structure　(cubic　phase).　However,　we　found　that　Zn2SnO4　could　assembly　into　a　slightly　distorted　cubic　structure　(quasi-cubic　phase)　for　the　first　time　by　using　tetrabutylammonium　hydroxide　as　an　alkaline　mineralizer.　In　addition,　we　successfully　tuned　the　morphologies　of　the　as-prepared　Zn2SnO4　particles,　from　cube,　cuboctahedron,　truncated　octahedron,　to　octahedron,　by　adjusting　the　type　and　the　concentration　of　alkaline　mineralizers　and　surfactants.　Compared　with　cubic　Zn2SnO4,　the　quasi-cubic　Zn2SnO4　showed　a　noticeable　red　shift　of　the　band　gap,　and　the　gas　sensors　based　on　quasi-cubic　Zn2SnO4　exhibited　high　sensitive　performance　to　alcohol.　XPS　analyses　revealed　that　the　shift　of　Zn　2p(3/2)　binding　energy　in　the　quasi-cubic　Zn2SnO4,　which　indicated　some　Zn　ions　in　quasi-cubic　Zn2SnO4　adopted　different　coordination　environments　from　regular　tetrahedral/octahedral　ones　adopted　in　cubic　Zn2SnO4.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.