A
dielectric material is disclosed comprising a plurality of substantially longitudinally oriented wires which are coupled together, wherein each of the wires includes a conductive core comprising a first material and one or more insulating shell
layers comprising a compositionally different second material disposed about the core. In one embodiment, a
dielectric layer is disclosed comprising a substrate comprising an insulating material having a plurality of nanoscale pores defined therein having a
pore diameter less than about 100 nm, and a conductive material disposed within the nanoscale pores. Methods are also disclosed to create a
dielectric material layer comprising, for example, providing a plurality of wires, wherein each of the wires includes a core comprising a first material and one or more insulating
layers comprising a compositionally different second material disposed about the core; substantially longitudinally orienting said plurality of wires along their long axes;
coupling the wires together; and depositing an insulating
coating on at least one of a top and / or a bottom end of the wires.