A new type of electrode for lithium-sulphur batteries is introduced based on vertical-aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on a nickel foil without any binder. The electrodes are synthesized by employing a catalyst layer and a CVD process. The CNTs directly synthesized on the Ni current collector are sulphur infiltrated using different approaches and the results are examined by SEM. Furthermore, cycle tests (1.0-3.0 V) with various electrolytes (liquid organic, ionic liquid and solid) are performed. The binder free CNT cathodes contain the highest so far published total ratio of sulphur (90%) in the electrode. Additionally the sulphur mass per cm(2) electrode can be more than three times as high as in regular slurry-based sulphur electrodes, thus doubling the volumetric energy density. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.