A newly designed gel-ceramic multi-layer electrolyte has been used as the separator and electrolyte for lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The Li-S cells, free of the shuttle effect, exhibit superior electrochemical performance. With almost no self-discharge, the cell demonstrates an initial discharge specific capacity of up to 725 mA h g(-1) and remains at 700 mA h g(-1) after 300 cycles at the C/2 rate.