This technology is directed to nanostructures in general and to metal nanoblades in particular. Oblique angle deposition has been demonstrated as an effective technique to produce three-dimensional nanostructures, such as nanosprings and nanorods. Because of the physical shadowing effect, the oblique incident vapor is preferentially deposited onto the highest surface features. This novel nanostructure is an array of thin crystalline magnesium nanoblades, which are coated with nanocatalyst palladium to act as high surface area structures for hydrogen storage. The nanoblades have a thickness that allows hydrogen to quicklydiffuse into and out of the thin blades. The blades grow in such a way to allow plenty of room for expansion when storing hydrogen within the blades as magnesium hydride.