To promote the oxygen permeability of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (BSCF) membranes, Co3O4 nanoparticle catalysts were loaded onto the surfaces of BSCF membranes by a dip-coating process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that Co3O4 nanoparticles crystalize in spinel phase. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation indicates that the mean particle size of the Co3O4 nanoparticles is about 100 nm in diameter and 20 mu m in thickness after annealing at 500 degrees C for 5 h. Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) results testify that the percentage of the elements in the modified layer are in accordance with the stoichiometric ratio of Co3O4. Oxygen permeation tests were made in a laboratory self-made device, and the results show that loading Co3O4 nanoparticle catalysts onto the surfaces of BSCF membranes can significantly increase the oxygen permeability of the BSCF membranes. The unmodified BSCF membranes have an oxygen permeation flux of 0.1080 ml cm(-2) min(-1) at 600 degrees C. This increases to 0.4302 ml cm(-2) min(-1), for the modified membranes, which is four times higher than that of the unmodified BSCF membranes. The oxygen permeation activation energy decreases from 91.42 to 50.71 kJ mol(-1) at 600-800 degrees C by loading Co3O4 nanoparticle catalysts on the surface of BSCF membranes. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.