Lithium-sulfur　batteries　(LSBs)　hold　great　potential　as　future　energy　storage　technology,　but　their　widespread　application　is　hampered　by　the　slow　polysulfide　conversion　kinetics　and　the　sulfur　loss　during　cycling.　In　this　study,　we　detail　a　one-step　approach　to　growing　tungsten　phosphide　(WP)　nanoparticles　on　the　surface　of　nitrogen　and　phosphorus　co-doped　carbon　nanosheets　(WP@NPC).　We　further　demonstrate　that　this　material　provides　outstanding　performance　as　a　multifunctional　separator　in　LSBs,　enabling　higher　sulfur　utilization　and　exceptional　rate　performance.　These　excellent　properties　are　associated　with　the　abundance　of　lithium　polysulfide　(LiPS)　adsorption　and　catalytic　conversion　sites　and　rapid　ion　transport　capabilities.　Experimental　data　and　density　functional　theory　calculations　demonstrate　tungsten　to　have　a　sulfophilic　character　while　nitrogen　and　phosphorus　provide　lithiophilic　sites　that　prevent　the　loss　of　LiPSs.　Furthermore,　WP　regulates　the　LiPS　catalytic　conversion,　accelerating　the　Li-S　redox　kinetics.　As　a　result,　LSBs　containing　a　polypropylene　separator　coated　with　a　WP@NPC　layer　show　capacities　close　to　1500　mAh/g　at　0.1C　and　coulombic　efficiencies　above　99.5　%　at　3C.　Batteries　with　high　sulfur　loading,　4.9　mg　cm−2,　are　further　produced　to　validate　their　superior　cycling　stability.　Overall,　this　work　demonstrates　the　use　of　multifunctional　separators　as　an　effective　strategy　to　promote　LSB　performance.　©　2024　Elsevier　Inc.