Carbon　nanosheets　(CNSs)　having　both　graphite　microcrystalline　layers　and　amorphous　carbon　structures　are　prepared　by　a　space-confined　carbonization　strategy　using　glucose,　sucrose　and　starch　as　carbon　sources　which　are　inserted　into　the　confined　space　of　vermiculite　templates　by　liquid-phase　impregnation　inter-calation.　The　microstructures　of　CNSs　are　strongly　depended　on　the　molecular　weight　of　carbon　precursors.　In　the　Starch-CNSs　synthesized　from　starch　with　larger　molecular　weight,　single　nanosheets　contain　more　ordered　graphite　microcrystalline　layers　and　fewer　microporous　defects　as　well　as　richer　oxygen-containing　functional　groups,　and　the　disordered　stacking　of　single　nanosheets　form　more　mesoporous　structures.　The　specific　surface　area　and　nanosheets　thickness　of　Starch-CNSs　are　400　m2middotg-1　and　3.934　nm.　Starch-CNSs　as　anode　for　lithium-ion　batteries　exhibit　excellent　lithium　storage　properties,　combining　initial　Coulombic　efficiency　(56　%),　high　specific　capacity　(637mAh/g　at　0.05　A/g),　excellent　rate　performance　(253　mAh/g　at　2　A/g)　and　cycling　stability　(262　mAh/g　at　2　A/g　after　500　cycles).　These　results　show　the　CNSs　derived　from　larger　molecular　weights　outperform　these　from　lower　counterparts,　providing　strong　evidence　and　re-ference　for　selecting　suitable　molecular　weight　carbon　precursors　to　prepare　high-performance　CNSs　anode　for　lithium　ion　batteries.(c)　2022　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.