A method of forming a salt-containing carbon-metal particle, the method including forming an aqueous mixture of acidic carbon black and one or more metals and applying energy to the aqueous mixture, whereby applying energy to the aqueous mixture results in the metal chemisorbing to the acidic carbon black. The aqueous mixture may be prepared by preparing an aqueous dispersion of the acidic carbon black and adding metal particles in a zero oxidation state to the aqueous dispersion of the acidic carbon black; or dissolving a metal in a zero oxidation state in an acidic aqueous solution, preparing an aqueous dispersion of the acidic carbon black, and adding the aqueous dispersion of the acidic carbon black to the acidic aqueous solution of the dissolved metal. The acidic carbon black may be oxidized carbon black, and the metal may be zinc, aluminum, gold, iron, lead, silver, copper, or combinations thereof.