Polyaniline coated mesoporous carbon/sulfur composite (CMK3/S-PANI) was prepared by an in-situ polymerization of aniline monomer on the surface of CMK3/S composite. The CMK3/S-PANI composite exhibits much better electrochemical performance than the uncoated CMK3/S composite and delivers initial discharge capacity of 1103 mAh g(-1) and maintains 649 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 1C rate. The coating layer can suppress the diffusion of discharge intermediate product into electrolyte and improve the cycling performance of the composite cathode. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.