Dispersion and solubilization of carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes are generally insoluble in any solvents, resulting in their poor processability for many proposed potential applications. Several strategies have been developed to introduce carbon nanotubes into solvent systems, including dispersion and suspension under special experimental conditions and the chemical modification and functionalization. The well-dispersed and solubilized carbon nanotubes make it possible to characterize and study the carbon nanotubes by using solution-based techniques, to realize some of the unique properties of the nanotubes, and to carry out further chemical transformations. In this review, recent development in the experimental methods for the dispersion and solubilization of carbon nanotubes will be summarized and discussed.