Conducting　polymers　such　as　polyaniline　have　demonstrated　their　considerable　superiorities　when　serving　as　promising　sulfur　host　materials　for　Li–S　batteries,　owing　to　their　strong　affinity　for　lithium　polysulfides　(LiPSs)　and　excellent　conductivity.　However,　less　polar　groups,　an　unstable　frame　structure　and　low　specific　surface　area　limited　their　electrochemical　performance.　Herein,　a　covalent　organic　framework　(COF)-like　conjugated　microporous　polyaniline　(CMPA)　with　an　extended　π-conjugated　system　and　permanent　3D　microporosity　was　developed　as　a　modified　material　for　use　in　the　current　collector　of　the　sulfur　cathode　for　highly　efficient　Li–S　batteries.　This　multifunctional　CMPA　shows　the　integrated　nature　of　conjugated　microporous　polymers　(CMPs)　and　PANi,　ensuring　exceptionally　specific　surface　area,　nitrogen-rich　character,　stable　framework　and　high　conductivity.　Owing　to　these　superiorities,　the　current　collector　modified　by　CMPA　delivers　a　high　areal　capacity　(7.42　mA　h　cm−2)　and　high　energy　density　(202.8　W　h　kgcell−1)　even　under　a　sulfur　loading　of　8.72　mg　cm−2.　These　outcomes　present　a　new　strategy　for　designing　advanced　cathodes　and　also　demonstrate　the　potential　of　CMPs　in　energy　storage　batteries.　This　journal　is　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry