Facile synthesis of guar gum gel for the separation of metallic and semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract Gel column chromatography is regarded as one of the most efficient methods for the large-scale separation of carbon nanotubes. However, the high cost of commercially available gel medium is a serious problem for industrial-scale production. A low-cost gel is therefore highly desired. In this study, we report a facile method to synthesize guar gum gel for the metal/semiconductor separation of carbon nanotubes. Because this synthesis process is relatively simple, scaling up is highly feasible. Although the stiffness of the gel is low, a column can be prepared by packing a mixture of guar gum gel particles and filter aids, which works well for separation. The low cost of materials and simple synthesis process of the gel will facilitate the industrial-scale separation of carbon nanotubes.