The　practical　applications　of　lithium　sulfur　batteries　have　been　greatly　restricted　by　the　polysulfide　shuttle　effect　and　non-conductivity　of　sulfur.　Here,　we　report　a　nickel-catalyzed　carbonization　method　to　synthesize　three-dimensional　(3D)　nickel@N-doped　carbon-nanotube　(CNT)　foams　for　lithium-sulfur　batteries.　The　corresponding　carbon/sulfur　cathode　with　a　high　sulfur　loading　of　3.71　mg　cm−2　possesses　a　high　initial　capacity　of　855.6　mAh　g−1　at　135　mA　g−1　and　good　cyclic　stability　with　a　low　fading　rate　of　0.153%　per　cycle　for　100　cycles　at　270　mA　g−1.　The　growth　of　carbon　thin　layers　on　the　nickel　nanoparticles　results　in　the　encapsulation　of　the　nanoparticles　in　the　CNTs,　which　makes　the　carbon　forms　highly　conductive　and　prevents　the　metal　nanoparticles　from　being　oxidized　by　polysulfides.　The　high　conductivity　is　favorable　for　the　electron　transfer　between　polysulfides　and　carbon　electrode.　Moreover,　the　doped　nitrogen　atoms　on　the　CNTs　have　strong　chemical　adsorption　ability　for　polysulfides,　accelerating　redox　reaction　of　polysulfides　on　the　carbon　electrode　(i.e.,　suppressing　the　shuttle　effect).　These　unique　structural　characteristics　well　explain　the　excellent　electrochemical　performance　of　the　assembled　batteries.　It　is　believed　that　the　fabricated　carbon　foam　is　a　promising　material　for　high　sulfur-loading　lithium-sulfur　battery.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.