The present invention relates to a novel particulate porous carbon material containing a carbon phase and at least one pore phase, and to the use of such materials in lithium cells, especially lithium-sulfur cells. The carbon phase forms, with the pore phase, essentially unordered co-continuous phase domains, such that the distance between adjacent domains of the pore phase is not more than 50 nm. The invention also relates to a process for producing such carbon materials and to composite materials comprising elemental sulfur and at least one inventive particulate porous carbon material.