This study reports the synthesis of proton-conducting BaZr0.2Ce0.8-xYxO3-delta (x = 0-0.4) oxides by using a combination of citrate-EDTA complexing sol-gel process and composition-exchange method. Compared to those oxides prepared from conventional sol -gel powders, the sintered BaZr0.2Ce0.8-xYxO3-delta pellets synthesized by sol-gel combined with composition-exchange method are found to exhibit improved sinterability, a higher relative density, higher conduction, and excellent thermodynamic stability against CO2. Moreover, the Pt/electrolyte/Pt single cell using such a BaZr0.2Ce0.6Y0.2O3-delta electrolyte shows an obviously higher maximum powder density in the hydrogen-air fuel cell experiments. Based on the experimental results, we discuss the improvement mechanism in terms of calcined particle characteristics. This work demonstrates that the BaZr0.2Ce0.8-xY O-x(3-delta) oxides synthesized by sol-gel combined with composition-exchange method would be a promising electrolyte for the use in H+-SOFC applications. More importantly, this new fabrication approach could be applied to other similar ABO(3)-perovsldte material systems. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.