Perovskite Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.1Ni0.1O3-delta (BSCFNi) oxide is synthesized and characterized as a cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra show that BSCFNi is chemical compatible with La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.83M-g(0.17)O(2.865)(LSGM) electrolyte below 950 degrees C, but weak reaction is observed between BSCFNi cathode and Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) electrolyte after calcined at 950 degrees C for 10 h. The XPS results indicate that transition metal cations in BSCFNi sample exist two different valence states, i.e., Co4+/3+, Fe4+/3+ and Ni+2+. The average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of BSCFNi is 18.7 x 10(-6) K-1 between 200 degrees C and 850 degrees C in air. The maximum electrical conductivity reaches 35.3 Scm(-1) at 425 degrees C in air. The polarization resistance of BSCFNi cathode on LSGM and SDC electrolytes are 0.033 and 0.066 Omega cm(2) at 800 degrees C, respectively. The maximum power density of LSGM electrolyte-supported single cell with BSCFNi cathode reaches 690 mWcm(-2) at 800 degrees C. These primarily results indicate that BSCFNi is a candidate cathode material for IT-SOFCs. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.