Nanostructured compositions containing nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes and methods for production thereof

Nanostructured compositions containing carbon nanotubes and at least one other type of nanoparticle can display the beneficial properties of both substances. Nanostructured compositions can contain a plurality of carbon nanotubes, a plurality of nanoparticles, and a plurality of linker moieties, where at least a portion of the linker moieties connect at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes to the nanoparticles. The nanostructured compositions can form a substrate coating. The nanostructured compositions can contain two or more different types or sizes of nanoparticles. Methods for forming a nanostructured composition can include forming a non-covalent bond between a linker moiety and a carbon nanotube, forming a covalent bond between a linker moiety and a nanoparticle or a surfactant coating thereon, and applying a plurality of carbon nanotubes to a substrate. The linker moiety can be non-covalently bonded to the carbon nanotube before or after applying the carbon nanotubes to the substrate.