Thick films of zinc oxide (ZnO) in form of nanospheres or hexagonal prisms and of tungsten-tin (W-Sn) mixed oxides at nominal Sn molar fraction (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) were prepared. The functional materials were synthesized and characterized by SEM and TEM, X-ray diffraction, specific surface area measurements, UV-Vis-NIR and IR spectroscopies. The gas sensing measurements highlighted that ZnO is more performant in form of nanoprisms, while W-Sn sensors offer a better response towards NOx and ozone with respect to pure WO3.