NOVELTY - A composition comprises mesoporous silica particles having a MCM-48 3D framework, where the particles has a surface area of 300-2,000 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.5-1.5 m3/g, an average pore diameter dimension of 1-20 nm, and an average particle size of 5-2,000 nm based on the average diameter of the particles.    USE - The composition and the methods are useful for making a lithium-sulfur cell, where the cell is associated with at least one of a portable battery, a power source for an electrified vehicle, a power source for an ignition system of a vehicle and a power source for a mobile device (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The composition is useful for certain energy storage applications, and has been found to be particularly advantageous for high maximum discharge capacity batteries which operate with high coulombic efficiency utilizing electrochemical voltaic cells which derive electrical energy from chemical reactions involving sulfur compounds.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are:    (1) a lithium-sulfur cell, comprising: a negative electrode; a circuit coupled with the negative electrode; a lithium-containing electrolyte medium; an interior wall of the cell; and an article comprising mesoporous silica particles;    (2) a method for making the lithium-sulfur cell, involving: fabricating a set of components to form the cell, where the set comprises a negative electrode, a circuit coupled with the negative electrode, a lithium-containing electrolyte medium, an interior wall of the cell, and an article comprising mesoporous silica particles; and    (3) a method for using a lithium-sulfur cell, involving at least one step from the set of steps comprising converting chemical energy stored in the cell into electrical energy; and converting electrical energy into chemical energy stored in the cell, where the cell comprises a negative electrode, a circuit coupled with the negative electrode, a lithium-containing electrolyte medium, an interior wall of the cell, and an article comprising mesoporous silica particles.