Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) exhibit many attractive properties in proximity to solid surfaces. Primarily, they form well-defined interfacial layers that are tunable — electrically and thermally — as well as being stable — mechanically, electrically, and thermally — over a wide range. Recent investigations have aimed at understanding the molecular structuring of ILs at their interface with solids and in confinement, while in tandem, ILs are used as next-generation lubricants and energy storage materials. The result is a large volume of work that has appeared over the last decade. In this review, the recent literature is presented and future research directions are discussed.