The article discusses the structural regulation of coal-derived hard carbon (HC) anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) through a pre-oxidation and post-carbonization process. The authors propose a cost-effective method to enhance the performance of HC anodes, which are widely recognized as promising candidates for SIB anodes due to their structural stability and low operational potential. The pre-oxidation step introduces oxygen functional groups, expanding the d₀₀₂ layer spacing, generating closed pores, and increasing defect sites. These modifications result in an HC anode with a balanced plateau and sloping capacity, achieving a reversible capacity of 306.3 mAh·g^-1 at 0.03 A·g^-1 and 289 mAh·g^-1 at 0.1 A·g^-1. The full cell configuration demonstrates an impressive energy density of 410.6 Wh·kg^-1. The study highlights the potential of coal-derived HC anodes for practical applications in SIBs, emphasizing the simplicity and efficiency of the preparation method.The article discusses the structural regulation of coal-derived hard carbon (HC) anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) through a pre-oxidation and post-carbonization process. The authors propose a cost-effective method to enhance the performance of HC anodes, which are widely recognized as promising candidates for SIB anodes due to their structural stability and low operational potential. The pre-oxidation step introduces oxygen functional groups, expanding the d₀₀₂ layer spacing, generating closed pores, and increasing defect sites. These modifications result in an HC anode with a balanced plateau and sloping capacity, achieving a reversible capacity of 306.3 mAh·g^-1 at 0.03 A·g^-1 and 289 mAh·g^-1 at 0.1 A·g^-1. The full cell configuration demonstrates an impressive energy density of 410.6 Wh·kg^-1. The study highlights the potential of coal-derived HC anodes for practical applications in SIBs, emphasizing the simplicity and efficiency of the preparation method.