An alkali- and/or alkaline earth-ion - sulfur battery comprising at least one cathode containing: - a cathode current collector foil; - a primary cathode mass layer, containing a conductive dimensionally stable porous host structure, sulfur as an active material, wherein at least 20 % of the sulfur present is monoclinic sulfur allotrope; - a secondary cathode mass layer, containing sulfur and alkali-ion- and/or alkaline earth-ion-intercalating material; - optionally a layer containing graphene oxide and/or reduced graphene oxide, heteroatom Group VIIa and/or Group Va elements co-doped graphene, and a Group VIIa and/or Group Va heteroatom-containing polymer; and at least one anode containing - an anode current collector foil; - optionally a conductive adhesive interlayer placed between the anode current collector foil and a primary anode mass layer; - a primary anode mass layer, containing a conductive dimensionally stable porous host structure, a metal capable of forming intermetallic alloys with an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal; - optionally a secondary anode mass layer, containing graphene oxide and/or reduced graphene oxide, heteroatom Group VIa elements co-doped graphene, and a polymer, preferably an elastomeric polymer; - an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal, preferably in the form of foil or powder. and at least one separator. at least one cathode containing: - a cathode current collector foil; - a primary cathode mass layer, containing a conductive dimensionally stable porous host structure, sulfur as an active material, wherein at least 20 % of the sulfur present is monoclinic sulfur allotrope; - a secondary cathode mass layer, containing sulfur and alkali-ion- and/or alkaline earth-ion-intercalating material; - optionally a layer containing graphene oxide and/or reduced graphene oxide, heteroatom Group VIIa and/or Group Va elements co-doped graphene, and a Group VIIa and/or Group Va heteroatom-containing polymer; and - a cathode current collector foil; - a primary cathode mass layer, containing a conductive dimensionally stable porous host structure, sulfur as an active material, wherein at least 20 % of the sulfur present is monoclinic sulfur allotrope; - a secondary cathode mass layer, containing sulfur and alkali-ion- and/or alkaline earth-ion-intercalating material; - optionally a layer containing graphene oxide and/or reduced graphene oxide, heteroatom Group VIIa and/or Group Va elements co-doped graphene, and a Group VIIa and/or Group Va heteroatom-containing polymer; at least one anode containing - an anode current collector foil; - optionally a conductive adhesive interlayer placed between the anode current collector foil and a primary anode mass layer; - a primary anode mass layer, containing a conductive dimensionally stable porous host structure, a metal capable of forming intermetallic alloys with an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal; - optionally a secondary anode mass layer, containing graphene oxide and/or reduced graphene oxide, heteroatom Group VIa elements co-doped graphene, and a polymer, preferably an elastomeric polymer; - an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal, preferably in the form of foil or powder. and - an anode current collector foil; - optionally a conductive adhesive interlayer placed between the anode current collector foil and a primary anode mass layer; - a primary anode mass layer, containing a conductive dimensionally stable porous host structure, a metal capable of forming intermetallic alloys with an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal; - optionally a secondary anode mass layer, containing graphene oxide and/or reduced graphene oxide, heteroatom Group VIa elements co-doped graphene, and a polymer, preferably an elastomeric polymer; - an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal, preferably in the form of foil or powder. at least one separator. <EOS>