Utilizing nanoscale particulate matter from the combustion of diesel fuels as a carbonaceous anode electrode for Li-ion batteries

•Diesel exhaust soot particles were successfully captured and reused as an anode material in Li-ion batteries.•The soot electrode demonstrated a remarkable rate ability to store Li-ions and Na-ion at fast charging rates.•Kinetic analysis indicated pseudocapacitive charging behavior in the soot composite electrode.•The remarkable electrochemical performance of soot composite electrodes suggests new directions to ensure the provision of energy and protecting the environment at the same time.