The　gas　sensing　properties　of　semiconducting　metal　oxides　will　be　further　improved　by　the　co-functionalization　of　bimetallic　noble　elements.　However,　most　methods　for　the　preparation　of　co-functionalized　metal　oxides　of　two　noble　metals　are　complex　and　costly.　In　this　study,　the　Au/Pd　co-functionalized　ZnO　nanowires　were　prepared　by　a　facile　one-pot　hydrothermal　method.　The　crystal　structure,　nano-size,　chemical　composition　and　morphology　of　the　samples　were　tested　by　XRD,　TEM,　XPS　and　SEM,　respectively.　The　Au　and　Pd　elements　were　distributed　on　the　ZnO　nanowire　surface　in　the　form　of　Au,　Pd　and　PdO　nanoparticles,　and　some　of　them　were　doped　into　the　lattice　of　ZnO.　The　gas　sensing　results　showed　that　the　response　of　1　mol%　Au/Pd–ZnO　was　732.4　to　5　ppm　NO2　gas　at　optimal　operating　temperature　of　100　°C,　which　was　32　times　higher　than　that　of　pristine　ZnO,　and　the　response/recovery　times　were　significantly　reduced　to　only　36/6　s.　This　sample　also　exhibits　a　good　reproducibility.　Moreover,　the　Au/Pd　co-functionalization　can　significantly　enhance　the　selectivity　of　the　ZnO　nanowires　to　NO2　gas.　Our　work　showed　that　the　activation　energy　can　be　further　reduced　to　0.172　eV　by　Au/Pd　co-functionalization.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd