In one aspect, a system for converting a feedstock into a specialized carbon fuel for energy conversion includes a re actor to receive a feedstock substance and dissociate the feedstock substance to carbon constituents and hydrogen by applying one or both of heat and electric current, the carbon constituents including hot carbon having a temperature state in a range of 700° C. to 1500° C. and having an increased chemical potential energy capable of storing external energy; and a fuel cell structured to include a chamber to receive the hot carbon, the fuel cell operable to receive and use the hot carbon as a fuel and air as an oxidant to (i) produce one or more oxides of carbon and one or more nitrogenous substances, or (ii) extract electrical energy from the hot carbon.