The use of acids in the exfoliation of carbon nanotubes and its application toward fabricating chemically stable and highly conducting transparent films

•Chemically stable and highly conducting transparent CNT films were achieved by use of acids.•Acid-assisted dispersion greatly improved the exfoliation of CNT.•Acid-assisted dispersion greatly improved the conductivity of CNT films, which is comparable to post-acid doping.•CNT films at 91% transmittances exhibited a sheet resistance of 150 Ω/square.•Excellent chemical stability under high temperature and high relative humidity was achieved.