Metal oxide sensors are provided. Systems including the metal oxide sensors and methods for identifying a target gas concentration using the sensors are also provided. A method for increasing the consistency of MOx sensor readings over an in-service interval is provided, comprising: applying a thermal stimulus to a sensor face to reset to a condition substantially devoid of environmental chemical species; a dwell period following the thermal stimulus where the sensor is: (a) held between an ambient temperature and a thermal stimulus temperature, or (b) exposed to temporal patterns of heated and unheated intervals; triggering a reading of electrochemical changes to the sensor caused by chemical species in the environment being sensed, at a consistent time interval after the application of the thermal stimulus; and wherein the application of the thermal stimulus, the dwell period, and the reading of electrochemical changes to the sensor is a thermal stimulus-to-read cycle.