Solubility of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been determined in various dispersing media by using the solvent parameters such as Kamlet-Taft parameter and 3-dimensional parameters. Nitric acid-treated SWNTs exhibit significantly improved solubility in hydrogen bondable solvents as well as in solvent mixtures. The forming bucky gel with ionic liquid allows for the new group of dissolving solvent. The dissolution behavior of SWNTs provides a route for SWNT dispersion/exfoliation in preparing electrically conductive films such as transparent electrode.