In　a　first　principles　study　of　the　formaldehyde　adsorption　on　ZnO　surface,　we　found　a　novel　chain　adsorption　structure　on　ZnO　(10　(1)　over　bar0)　plane.　This　adsorption　structure　results　from　the　electrostatic　interactions　between　those　adsorbed　formaldehyde　molecules　and　the　unique　arrangement　of　Zn-O　surface　dimers　on　(10　(1)　over　bar0)　plane.　This　adsorption　mechanism　has　the　potential　to　extend　to　other　wurtzite　materials＇　(10　(1)　over　bar0)　plane　and　other　similar　cases.　As　the　physical　adsorption　configurations　are　unstable,　the　chemical　adsorption　has　to　happen.　The　electronic　properties　show　that　the　C　=　O　double　bond　in　CH2O　turns　into　C-O　single　bond　and　the　highest　occupied　molecule　orbital　(HOMO)　of　formaldehyde　is　lifted　into　ZnO　band　gap　becoming　the　hole　trapping　center.　These　results　may　be　meaningful　for　formaldehyde　degradation　and　detection.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.