We reported the synthesis of dendrite-like carbon nanotube-confined polymeric sulfur composite by modifying the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with trithiocyanuric acid (TTCA) and then copolymerizing with sulfur. DSC results show the successfully formation of robust chemical bonds between sulfur and TTCA modified CNTs, which effectively avoid the dissolution of polysulfide when used as cathodes for lithium–sulfur batteries. The composite with a high sulfur content of 78 wt% exhibits an initial charge capacity of 698 mAh g− 1 and the residual capacity of 553 mAh g− 1 after 1000 cycles at a rate of 1 C.

We fabricated a Li-S battery with post-treated carbon nanotube (CNT) films which offered better support for sulfur, and investigated the effect of the surface properties and pore structure of the post-treated CNT films on Li-S battery performance. Post-treatments, i.e., acid treatment, unzip process and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) treatment, effectively modified the surface properties and pore structure of the CNT film. The modified pore structure impacted the ability of the CNT films to accommodate the catholyte, resulting in an increase in initial discharge capacity.