Starch as an efficient precursor for hard carbon anodes enables high-performance sodium-ion storage

and an impressive initial discharge capacity of 85.89%. The capacity retention is as high as 87.24% after 100 cycles of charge and discharge. Furthermore, the hard carbon demonstrates excellent rate performance with a capacity recovery rate of 95.11%. The stabilized starch-derived hard carbon anode possesses both high sodium storage performance and a lower cost, demonstrating potential for commercialization on a large scale.