NOVELTY - A method of solubilizing carbon nanotubes in an organic solvent, involves attaching an aliphatic carbon chain (which may contain aromatic residues) to carbon nanotubes and dissolving carbon nanotubes with attached aliphatic carbon chain (which may contain aromatic residues) in organic solvent.    USE - For solubilizing carbon nanotubes in an organic solvent. The solubilized carbon nanotubes are used as intermediates in the preparation of polymers, copolymers and composite material, and for devices in various industries including aero-space, battery fuel cell, healthcare and electromagnetic radiation shielding.    ADVANTAGE - A simple method of solubilizing carbon nanotubes is enabled. The resulting solution allows the study of functionalization chemistry of the open ends, the exterior walls or convex face and the interior cavity or concave face of carbon nanotubes. Processing of nanotube into intermediate in the preparation of polymer, copolymer and composite products, and devices in various industries including aero-space, battery fuel cell, healthcare and electromagnetic radiation shielding, is also enabled. Full length or unshortened carbon nanotubes are solubilized by a simple method which preserves the length of the carbon nanotubes. Introduction of carboxylic acid groups for solubilizing the carbon nanotubes is not necessary, due to direct interaction of the carbon nanotubes with a long chain amines such as octadecyl amine. The carbon nanotubes do not require heat treatment and are used directly in the dissolution step. The carbon nanotubes are not subjected to strong acid and extra functionality is not introduced. The carbon nanotubes may be easily liberated from the amine by acidification. Treatment of solutions of the carbon nanotube-amine solvate with hydrochloric acid leads to precipitation of the unchanged carbon nanotubes due to protonation of the amine. The carbon nanotubes are introduced into polymer mixtures and blends to form films from which the amine is easily removed because it is not chemically bonded to carbon nanotubes.