Extraction and modification of cigarette smoke aerosol derived nanoparticle for supercapacitor

Abstract

Developing sustainable solutions for utilizing toxic pollutants in different applications is a significant challenge. This article explores how cigarette smoke—an aerosol containing numerous hazardous organic compounds and metals—was captured and transformed into metal and carbon-based nanoparticles (carbon dots) through a straightforward hydrothermal process. Cigarette smoke extract was prepared in water and then hydrothermally treated to obtain solid particulates. These metal and carbon-based nanoparticles were subsequently combined with carbon black and carbon nanotubes to enhance their stability and electrochemical activity. An asymmetric supercapacitor was developed by utilizing these modified nanoparticles to demonstrate the potential of cigarette smoke aerosol-derived nanomaterials for energy storage. Photoluminescence and TEM analysis confirmed the formation of carbon dots, while FESEM and elemental mapping validated the presence of metal-based nanoparticles. The asymmetric supercapacitor device was fabricated with carbon black modified aerosol-derived carbon and metal-based nanoparticles achieved a specific capacitance of 161 F/g along with energy and power density of 72 W h/kg and 1798 W/kg, at 1 A/g current density, respectively. Overall, this study illustrates that capturing and converting hazardous aerosols can simultaneously tackle two critical issues: environmental pollution and the demand for energy storage, using a simple and scalable approach applicable to various toxic aerosol systems.