Lithium–sulfur　(Li-S)　batteries　are　regarded　as　highly　promising　energy　storage　devices　due　to　their　high　theoretical　specific　capacity　and　high　energy　density.　Nevertheless,　the　commercial　application　of　Li-S　batteries　is　still　restricted　by　poor　electrochemical　performance.　Herein,　beaded　nanofibers　(BNFs)　consisting　of　carbon　and　CoSe2　nanoparticles　(CoSe2/C　BNFs)　were　prepared　by　electrospinning　combined　with　carbonization　and　selenization.　Benefitting　from　the　synergistic　effect　of　physical　adsorption　and　chemical　catalysis,　the　CoSe2/C　BNFs　can　effectively　inhibit　the　shuttle　effect　of　lithium　polysulfides　and　improve　the　rate　performance　and　cycle　stability　of　Li-S　batteries.　The　three-dimensional　conductive　network　provides　a　fast　electron　and　ion　transport　pathway　as　well　as　sufficient　space　for　alleviating　the　volume　change.　CoSe2　can　not　only　effectively　adsorb　the　lithium　polysulfides　but　also　accelerate　their　conversion　reaction.　The　CoSe2/C　BNFs-S　cathode　has　a　high　reversible　discharge　specific　capacity　of　919.2　mAh　g−1　at　0.1　C　and　presents　excellent　cycle　stability　with　a　low-capacity　decay　rate　of　0.05%　per　cycle　for　600　cycles　at　1　C.　The　combination　of　the　beaded　carbon　nanofibers　and　polar　metal　selenides　sheds　light　on　designing　high-performance　sulfur-based　cathodes.　©　2023　by　the　authors.