Blocking Oxidation Failures of Carbon Nanotubes through Selective Protection of Defects

Abstract

The selective growth of Al2 O3 islands over defect sites on the surface of carbon nanotubes significantly increases the oxidation breakdown threshold to 6.8 W cm(-2) , more than double than that of unprotected films. The elevated input power enables thermoacoustic emissions at loud audible sound pressure levels of 90.1 dB, which are inaccessible with the unprotected films.