The electrocatalytic performance of the oxygen-reduction reaction of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-delta (LSCF) -Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) cathodes prepared by an impregnation technique has been investigated as cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. The electrocatalytic activity of LSCF-YSZ cathodes increases with the introduction of LSCF phases to the YSZ scaffold. The introduction of surfactants into LSCF-precursor solutions during preparation has a great effect on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of LSCF-YSZ composite cathodes. N-ethyl-perfluoyooctylsulfonamide (DF10) is a type of commonly used nonionic flusurfactant which affects the LSCF particles' morphology on the YSZ scaffold. Using N-ethyl-perfluoyooctylsulfonamide (DF10) acetylacetone during the preparation of LSCF-YSZ composite cathodes decreases the electrode polarization resistance (R-e) of cathodes from 0.45 to 0.18 Omega cm(2). We obtained a notable improvement in the electrochemical performance of LSCF-YSZ-composite cathodes with uniform and continuous LSCF particle distribution on the surface of YSZ scaffold. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.