<p>In this work, black carbon material was developed, and its numerous potential uses were investigated. The black carbon compound was created using a home-made apparatus known as the mud lamp setup, alongside its application in low-cost paper-based electronics. Several characterization techniques, including FESEM and EDX, are employed to verify the production of the soot. The prepared conductive ink was applied on paper substrates via stencil painting to fabricate simple electronic components, including paper-LED circuits and paper-based electrodes. Electrochemical studies using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated good conductivity, low charge transfer resistance, and reversible redox behavior, validating its functionality in electronic applications. Various applications were explored, including wireless powering bulbs, self-powered/solar-powered LEDs, paper electrodes for biosensors, and nanotechnology as an ideal nanomaterial and futuristic smart E-devices. The current work demonstrates that the basic low-budget carbon was effectively utilized in the electronic sector to manufacture affordable, miniaturized, wearable, smart, or wire-free devices. Overall, this study establishes an indigenous and environmentally friendly route for developing conductive inks, bridging sustainable materials with next-generation papertronics and offering promising opportunities in healthcare, energy, and flexible electronics.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>