A carbon coating layer facing sulfur cathode is introduced on one side of the solid state ionic conductor in the ceramic -liquid hybrid electrolyte based Li-S cell. Both the cycling performance and the rate capability are improved as a result of enhanced electron transport for the conversion of the dissolved sulfur-containing active materials as well as the wettability of the ceramic electrolyte towards the liquid electrolyte. The interface modified hybrid Li-S cell exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 1409 mA h g(-1),and remains at 1000 mA h g(-1), which is 235 mA h g(-1), higher than the pristine one, after 50 cycles at 0.2C rate. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.