Described are carbon nanotube dispersions containing single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed in a dispersant solution comprising a solvent (water, organic polar protic solvents, and/or organic polar aprotic solvents), and an azo compound. The single-walled carbon nanotubes are not cross-linked with covalent bonds. The dispersions are useful for fabricating transparent conductive thin films on flexible and inflexible substrates. Methods for making the transparent conductive thin films are also described.