Ultra-sensitive and fast response formaldehyde sensor based on La2O3-In2O3 beaded nanotubes at low temperature

La 2 O 3 -In 2 O 3 composited beaded nanotubes (LIBNTs) and pure In 2 O 3 nanotubes (INTs) were fabricated via a simple electrospinning method. By means of SEM, XRD and XPS analysis, we determined the surface structure, crystal phase and chemical properties of the materials. By test, we determined that the optimum operating temperature of LIBNTs-based sensor was a low temperature of 128 °C. The test results also revealed that LIBNTs-based sensor has an ultra-sensitive response to formaldehyde (101.9/50 ppm) and a faster response/recovery property (3 s and 19 s) compared with INTs-based sensor. The LIBNTs-based sensor also exhibited good linearity, repeatability and selectivity.