The technique for eliminating thermal cycle shrinkage behavior of porous La0.8Sr0.2Mn1-xMxO3+delta bodies by B-site doping (M=Mg, Al, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni; 0less than or equal toxless than or equal to0.1) has been studied in air. It was found that Mg-, Cr-, Co- or Ni-doping was an effective way of eliminating the thermal cycle shrinkage of the porous perovskite bodies, and especially NiO was the most effective substitution element. By 10 mol% Ni-doping to La0.8Sr0.2MnO3+delta, no release and absorption of oxygen in the perovskite was observed. This perovskite showed the hexagonal symmetry in the temperature range from room temperature to 1000 degreesC. Additionally, no change of linear thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) was observed for the perovskites with Mg, Cr, Co or Ni dopant. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.