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Chinese Researchers Transform Cigarette Butts into High-Performance Energy Storage Components

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Business Honor
31 January, 2026

Innovative super capacitors made from recycled waste showcase sustainable solutions for energy storage and environmental remediation.

The researchers in Henan Province, China are now creating environmentally friendly components for use in eco-friendly structures from recycled cigarette filters. Primarily made of cellulose acetate (a plastic), the degradation rate of cigarette butts is often measured in decades and those that reside in soil can leach out heavy metals. As such, engineers have found that the cellulose acetate-based polymer structure of cigarette butts provides unexpected opportunities for eco-friendly solutions.

As reported on January 29 by the researchers, they have developed advanced nanoporous carbon electrode materials for use in super capacitors from discarded cigarette butts. According to the researchers’ press release, "these devices have high energy, power densities, and demonstrate excellent long-term performance." The innovative technology provides researchers with an opportunity to engage in both environmental restoration and technological development.

The composition of cigarette butts, made mostly from cellulose and cellulose acetic acid, has been determined to be an excellent low-cost biomass precursor for energy storage. The research team led by Leichang Cao used hydrothermal carbonization as a way to convert this toxic waste into high-tech energy components.

The unique structure of the material, which is enhanced with nitrogen and oxygen doping, provides the material with the ability to achieve high specific capacitance (the measure of a material's capacity to store electrical energy). The new material is surprisingly robust and, after 10,000 cycles of charge and discharge, only has lost more than 95% of its original capacity. The electrochemical tests of the new material, referred to as CNPB-700-4, demonstrated that the material's specific capacitance is 344.91 F g⁻¹ when assessed at 1 A g⁻¹ and has a very good rate capability and low internal resistance.

This new technology will provide high-speed performance for applications such as stabilization of power grids and enhancing electric vehicles. Additionally, it will provide a sustainable alternative to the expensive commercial capacitors. This study lays the groundwork to view cigarette butts in a different and less toxic context.