Ultrahigh surface area supports for nanomaterial attachment

A method of fabricating a hierarchical structure comprising:

• selecting and preparing a parent substrate, wherein the preparing may optionally include cleaning or activation;
• modifying the substrate surface to form an intermediate layer;
• attaching at least one plurality of nanoscale attachments, wherein the nanoscale attachments are selected from nanotubes, nanoparticles, or combinations thereof, onto the intermediate layer;
• optionally attaching a second plurality of nanoscale attachments, wherein the nanoscale attachments are selected from nanotubes, nanoparticles, or combinations thereof, onto the first plurality of nanoscale attachments and intermediate layer;
• wherein the steps of forming the intermediate layer and attaching the nanoscale attachments use one or more surface modification techniques selected from the group (a) wet chemistry, (b) chemical vapor deposition, (c) plasma deposition, (d) atomic layer deposition, (e) physical vapor deposition, (f) controlled environment heating, or a combination thereof;
• and
• optionally heating in a controlled environment.