An La0.6Sr0.4CO0.2Fe0.8O3-La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSCF-LSM) multi-layer composite cathode for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) was prepared on an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte by the screen-printing technique. Its cathodic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectra were measured and the results were compared with those for a conventional LSM/LSM-YSZ cathode. While the LSCF-LSM multilayer composite cathode exhibited a cathodic overpotential lower than 0.13 V at 750 degrees C at a Current density of 0.4 A cm(-2), the overpotential for the conventional LSM-YSZ cathode was about 0.2V. The electrochemical impedance spectra revealed a better electrochemical performance of the LSCF-LSM multi-layer composite cathode than that of the conventional LSM/LSM-YSZ cathode; e.g.. the polarization resistance value of the multi-layer composite cathode was 0.25 Omega cm(2) at 800 degrees C, nearly 40% lower than that of LSM/LSM-YSZ at the same temperature. In addition, an encouraging output power from an YSZ-supported cell using an LSCF-LSM multi-layer composite cathode was obtained. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.