Synthesis, electrical and magnetic characterization of core–shell silicon carbo-nitride coated carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate synthesis, electrical and magnetic characterization of silicon carbo-nitride (SiCN) coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes in a core–shell structure. The core formed by a carbon nanotube had a diameter in the range of 10–100 nm. The shell was synthesized by pyrolysis of an SiCN precursor on the surface of carbon nanotubes. Electrical resistivity of an individual composite nanotube was measured to be ~ 2.55 × 103 Ω cm. The magnetic measurements performed by a superconducting quantum interference device on the composite nanotubes in the temperature range of 5–300 K show a reduced coercive field with increasing temperatures. The monolayer thick coating of an ultra high temperature multifunctional ceramic SiCN makes these composite nanotubes very promising for sensing applications in harsh environments.