The　effective　solution　to　current　energy　and　environmental　issues　lies　in　the　advancement　of　renewable　energy　conversion　and　storage　technologies.　In　this　work,　an　ultra-thin-walled　hierarchical　porous　carbon　(UHPC)　with　fluffy　three-dimensional　(3D)　interconnected　network　structure　was　synthesized　by　pyrolysis　of　petroleum　residue　and　aluminum　isopropoxide.　Then,　a　nitrogen‑sulfur　co-doped　UHPC　(NS-UHPC)　was　prepared　and　employed　as　a　sulfur-loading　host　to　achieve　NS-UHPC@S　composite　after　sulfur　impregnation.　After　that,　the　electrochemical　performances　are　explored　utilizing　the　NS-UHPC@S　composite　as　electrode　active　material　for　lithium‑sulfur　battery　(LSB).　The　as-prepared　NS-UHPC　possesses　a　specific　surface　area　of　1031.32　m2　g−1　and　a　pore　volume　of　0.82　cm3　g−1　with　abundant　active　sites　for　absorption　of　polysulfides.　Meanwhile,　it　maintains　a　fluffy　3D　interconnected　network　structure　with　graphene-like　sheets　on　its　surface.　The　sulfur　loading　of　the　NS-UHPC　reaches　as　high　as　79.58　wt%　after　sulfur　impregnation.　In　addition,　the　resulting　NS-UHPC@S　composite　exhibits　an　initial　specific　capacity　of　1255.17　mAh　g−1　at　0.1C,　and　after　700　cycles,　the　capacity　decay　rate　per　cycle　is　0.0323　%,　demonstrating　its　excellent　cycling　stability.　Therefore,　the　NS-UHPC　is　a　desirable　sulfur-loading　host　for　high-performance　LSB.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd