To　realize　a　low-carbon　economy　and　sustainable　energy　supply,　the　development　of　energy　storage　devices　has　aroused　intensive　attention.　Lithium-sulfur　(Li-S)　batteries　are　regarded　as　one　of　the　most　promising　next-generation　battery　devices　because　of　their　remarkable　theoretical　energy　density,　cost-effectiveness,　and　environmental　benignity.　However,　the　practical　application　of　Li-S　batteries　is　hindered　by　such　challenges　as　low　sulfur　utilization　(＜　80%),　fast　capacity　fade,　short　service　life　(＜　200　redox　cycles),　and　severe　self-discharge.　The　reasons　behind　the　challenges　are:　(1)　low　conductivity　of　the　active　materials,　(2)　large　volume　changes　during　redox　cycling,　(3)　serious　polysulfide　shuttling　and,　(4)　lithium-metal　anode　contamination/corrosion　and　dendrite　formation.　Significant　achievements　have　been　made　to　address　these　problems　in　the　past　decade.　In　this　review,　the　recent　advances　in　material　synthesis　and　technology　development　are　analysed　in　terms　of　the　electrochemical　performance　of　different　Li-S　battery　components.　The　critical　analysis　was　conducted　based　on　the　merits　and　shortcomings　of　the　reported　work　on　the　issues　facing　the　individual　component.　A　versatile　3D-printing　technique　is　also　examined　on　its　practicability　for　Li-S　battery　production.　The　insights　on　the　rational　structural　design　and　reasonable　parameters　for　Li-S　batteries　are　highlighted　along　with　the　＂five　5s＂　concept　from　a　practical　point　of　view.　The　remaining　challenges　are　outlined　for　researchers　to　devote　more　efforts　on　the　understanding　and　commercialization　of　the　devices　in　terms　of　the　material　preparation,　cell　manufacturing,　and　characterization.