Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are known
as a prospective
new generation of battery systems owing to their high energy density,
low cost, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless,
several issues remain in the practical application of Li–S
batteries, such as low sulfur usage, poor rate performance, and poor
cycle stability. Ordered microporous carbon materials and carbon nanotubes
(CNTs) can effectively limit the diffusion of polysulfides (LiPSs)
and have high electrical conductivity, respectively. Here, inspired
by the evaporation of zinc at high temperatures, we constructed CNTs
interpenetrating ordered microporous carbon nanospheres (CNTs/OMC
NSs) by high-temperature calcination and used them as a sulfur host
material. With the benefit from the excellent electrical conductivity
of CNTs and OMC achieving uniform sulfur dispersion and effectively
limiting LiPS dissolution, the S@CNTs/OMC NS cathodes show outstanding
cycling stability (initial discharge capacity of 879 mAh g–1 at 0.5 C, maintained at 629 mAh g–1 for 500 cycles)
and excellent rate performance (521 mAh g–1 at 5.0
C). Furthermore, the current study can serve as a significant reference
for the synthesis of CNTs that interpenetrate various materials.