Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a form of carbon material that has a cylindrical structure. These nanotubes are considered one-dimensional materials because their length is extremely long compared to their diameter, making them one-dimensional in nature. In CNTs, the electrons are free to move along the length of the tube, but there is limited movement in the other two dimensions (perpendicular to the tube's axis). This one-dimensional structure gives them unique mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.
- Zero-dimensional materials: These materials would have no spatial extent in any direction, like individual atoms or quantum dots.
- Two-dimensional materials: These materials, such as graphene, have two spatial dimensions with thickness in the nanometer range.
- Three-dimensional materials: These materials have all three dimensions in the macroscale, like bulk materials.
Thus, One-dimensional materials is the correct answer.