Synthesis and characterization of magnetic carbon nanotubes/silsesquioxane nanocomposite thin films

[Display omitted] •Magnetic CNT/silsesquioxane nanocomposites were synthesized by sol–gel method.•Nanocomposites were successfully deposited as thin film by dip-coating process.•Chemical composition and morphology analysis showed homogeneous films with CNTs.•Thin film with CNT presented magnetic response. In the present study, magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/silsesquioxane nanocomposites were produced by sol–gel method and deposited as thin film by dip-coating process. Blank films and films with CNTs were characterized in order to evaluate their chemical composition and morphology. Profilometry technique showed the formation of films with 305±22nm of thickness for blank samples (without CNTs) and 173±05nm thickness for samples with CNTs. Microscopy techniques indicated the presence of CNTs well dispersed in the films and, with the aid of Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, chemical composition of silsesquioxane matrix was evidenced and the presence of CNTs was confirmed in the films. Finally, the magnetic response of the deposited films was analyzed by Alternating Gradient-Field Magnetometer and results indicated that films reinforced with CNTs showed a hysteresis loop that indicates a coercivity of 103Oe and the blank film did not show any significant response to the field applied. Hence, the authors suggest that this hybrid organic–inorganic material has potential to be applied as a new material for magnetic storage.