A composite structure for an electric energy storage device is envisioned. The structure is made of a metal substrate and a metal oxide layer disposed over a majority of the metal substrate with the metal oxide layer being comprised of a first and second metals. Carbon nanotubes are disposed on the metal oxide layer. In an embodiment the first metal and the second metal are each selected from a group consisting of: iron, nickel, aluminum, cobalt, copper, chromium, and gold.