Composite filter media with high surface area fibers

A composite media comprising:

• a first fiber layer having a first side and a second side;
• a winged-fiber layer adjacent to the first side of the first fiber layer, and;
• the winged-fiber layer comprising a web of winged-fibers, the fibers comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a cross-section comprising a longitudinal axis having a plurality of projections extending from the longitudinal axis and along a periphery of the longitudinal axis, wherein the number of projections is between 16 and 32, and wherein the plurality of projections define a plurality of channels, the plurality of channels having a width of 200 nanometers to 300 nanometers;
• wherein the winged-fibers each have a cross-sectional length of 1 micrometers to 100 micrometers and a cross-sectional width of 1 micrometers to 100 micrometers;
• and
• wherein the winged-fiber has a surface area of 100,000 cm2/g to 1,000,000 cm2/g.