Rechargeable batteries using organic materials have potential advantages of low cost and materials sustainability for large-scale electric storage applications. The key issue to realize such sustainable batteries is to develop suitable organic electrode materials with sufficient redox capacity and cycling stability. Herein, we introduce lithium and sodium salt of 3, 4, 9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid (Li4C24H8O8, Na4C24H8O8) as new organic anode materials for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. The Li4C24H8O8 electrode can deliver a reversible capacity of similar to 200 mAh g(-1) at quite low charge/discharge plateaus of 1.20/1.10 V, and remains 98% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles. Similarly, the Na4C24H8O8 electrode exhibits a reversible Na storage capacity of similar to 100 mAh g(-1) at a low voltage region of 0.8-0.6 V (vs Na) with almost indiscernible capacity decay during 100 cycles. These results demonstrate a potential possibility to use the organic anodes for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.