Lithium-sulfur　batteries　(LSBs)　are　considered　next-generation　energy　storage　and　conversion　solutions　owing　to　their　high　theoretical　specific　capacity　and　the　high　abundance/low-cost　of　sulfur-based　cathode　materials.　However,　LSBs　still　encounter　significant　challenges,　including　the　low　conductivities　of　sulfur-based　materials,　severe　volumetric　expansion　of　sulfur　during　the　discharge　process,　and　the　persistent　＂shuttle　effect＂　of　polysulfides.　In　recent　years,　a　tremendous　amount　of　research　has　been　conducted　to　address　the　above　challenges　by　developing　coating　and　compositing　materials　and　corresponding　fabrication　strategies　for　sulfur-based　cathode　materials.　In　this　study,　the　surface　coating,　compositing　materials,　and　fabrication　methodologies　of　LSB　cathodes　are　comprehensively　reviewed　in　terms　of　advanced　materials,　structure/component　characterization,　functional　mechanisms,　and　performance　validation.　Some　technical　challenges　are　analyzed　in　detail,　and　possible　future　research　directions　are　proposed　to　overcome　the　challenges　toward　practical　applications　of　lithium-sulfur　batteries.　The　surface　coating　and　compositing　materials　and　the　fabrication　methodologies　of　LSB　cathodes　are　comprehensively　reviewed　in　terms　of　advanced　materials,　structure/component　characterization,　functional　mechanisms　and　performance　validation.　Some　technical　challenges　are　deeply　analyzed　and　the　possible　future　research　directions　are　also　proposed　in　this　paper　for　overcoming　the　challenges　towards　practical　applications　of　lithium-sulfur　batteries.　image