20:T4a5,The primary challenge with lithium-sulfur battery research is the design of sulfur cathodes that exhibit high electrochemical efficiency and stability while keeping the sulfur content and loading high and the electrolyte/sulfur ratio low. With a systematic investigation, a novel graphene/cotton-carbon cathode is presented here that enables sulfur loading and content as high as 46 mg cm^-2 and 70 wt% with an electrolyte/sulfur ratio of as low as only 5. The graphene/cotton-carbon cathodes deliver peak capacities of 926 and 765 mA h g^-1 , respectively, at C/10 and C/5 rates, which translate into high areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities of, respectively, 43 and 35 mA h cm^-2 , 648 and 536 mA h g^-1 , and 1067 and 881 mA h cm^-3 with a stable cyclability. They also exhibit superior cell-storage capability with 95% capacity-retention, a low self-discharge constant of just 0.0012 per day, and stable poststorage cyclability after storing over a long period of six months. This work demonstrates a viable approach to develop lithium-sulfur batteries with practical energy densities exceeding that of lithium-ion batteries.21:T45a,Abstract Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered as a substitute for conventional batteries as they are the most promising next‐generation energy‐storage system due to their high energy densities. However, their short cycling life, limited sulfur loading, severe polysulfide shuttling, and low sulfur utilization critically impede grid‐level‐storage energy techniques in Li–S batteries. The lithium shuttle effect results in rapid capacity fading and battery failure. The design and fabrication of sulfur hosts are key points to eliminate the aforementioned issues, especially the shuttle effect. In the past decade, spatial encapsulation and chemical interaction have improved the adsorption capacity of lithium polysulfides for the sulfur hosts and thus prolonged the lifetime of Li–S batteries. In an attempt to promote future research on the sulfur cathode and foster breakthroughs in Li–S batteries, recent achievements are highlighted, mechanical insights are discussed, and the remaining challenges and future research directions in the innovation of sulfur cathodes are identified.

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