Functionalization and dispersion of carbon nanotubes in ionic liquids

•The combination of ILs with CNTs provides new materials, called “soft materials”.•Soft materials are promising in many fields, thanks to their synergistic properties.•Ionic liquids enable effective dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs).•ILs can be attached to CNTs or act as media for further functionalization.•Soft materials have been exploited from an analytical point of view.

Chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in ionic liquids (ILs), ILs as a new class of CNT dispersant and the soft materials formed by combining these two promising materials are the subjects of this review. The roles of CNTs and ILs are remarkable in improving analytical processes (e.g., sample treatment and electrochemical detection).