The　sluggish　kinetics　of　multiphase　sulfur　conversion　with　homogeneous　and　heterogeneous　electrochemical　processes,　causing　the　＂shuttle　effect＂　of　soluble　polysulfide　species　(PSs),　is　the　challenges　in　terms　of　lithium-sulfur　batteries　(LSBs).　In　this　paper,　a　Mn3O4-x　catalyst,　which　has　much　higher　activity　for　heterogeneous　reactions　than　for　homogeneous　reactions　(namely,　preferential-activity　catalysts),　is　designed　by　surface　engineering　with　rational　oxygen　vacancies.　Due　to　the　rational　design　of　the　electronic　structure,　the　Mn3O4-x　catalyst　prefers　to　accelerate　the　conversion　of　Li2S4　into　Li2S2/Li2S　and　optimize　Li2S　deposition,　reducing　the　accumulation　of　PSs　and　thus　suppressing　the　＂shuttle　effect.＂　Both　density　functional　theory　calculations　and　in　situ　X-ray　diffraction　measurements　are　used　to　probe　the　catalytic　mechanism　and　identify　the　reaction　intermediates　of　MnS　and　LiyMnzO4-x　for　fundamental　understanding.　The　cell　with　Mn3O4-x　delivers　an　ultralow　attenuation　rate　of　0.028%　per　cycle　over　2000　cycles　at　2.5　C.　Even　with　sulfur　loadings　of　4.93　and　7.10　mg　cm(-2)　in　a　lean　electrolyte　(8.4　mu　L　mg　s(-1)),　the　cell　still　shows　an　initial　areal　capacity　of　7.3　mAh　cm(-2).　This　study　may　provide　a　new　way　to　develop　preferential-activity　heterogeneous-reaction　catalysts　to　suppress　the　＂shuttle　effect＂　of　the　soluble　PSs　generated　during　the　redox　process　of　LSBs.