Polarization　of　lithium-sulfur　(Li-S)　batteries　consumes　energy　density　upon　cycling,　which　precludes　their　practical　application　in　state-of-the-art　devices.　Herein　a　conformal　zinc　sulfide/reduced　graphene　oxide/elemental　sulfur　(ZnS/rGO/S)　composite　is　synthesized　and　used　as　cathode　materials　in　Li-S　batteries.　The　synergetic　regulation　of　ohmic,　concentration,　and　electrochemical　polarization　decreases　the　overpotential　and　improves　the　cycling　performance　of　the　Li　parallel　to　ZnS/rGO/S　cell.　Combining　theoretical　calculations　and　experimental　results,　it　is　revealed　that　the　ZnS　spheres　can　absorb　lithium　polysulfide　(LPS)　intermediates,　catalyze　LPS　conversion,　and　provide　fast　electronic/ionic　diffusion　kinetics.　The　ZnS/rGO/S　cathode　is　further　applied　in　pouch　Li-S　cells,　demonstrating　the　practicability　of　sulfur　cathodes　with　reduced　polarization.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.