The composite cathodes LaBaCo(2)O(5+delta)-x wt.% Ag (LBCO-xAg,x = 20, 30, 40, 50) were prepared by mechanical mixing method for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The experiment results indicated that the addition of a small amount of B(2)O(3)-Bi(2)O(3)-PbO (BBP) frit to LBCO-xAg can effectively improve the adhesion and strength of cathode membrane without damaging its porous structure. The BBP frit was proved effective for lowering the sintering temperature of LBCO-xAg to 900 degrees C. According to the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cathodic polarization analysis, the LBCO-30Ag exhibited the best performance and the optimal BBP frit content was 2.5 wt.%. For LBCO-30Ag with 2.5 wt.% BBP frit, the area-specific resistance based on Sm(0.2)Ce(0.8)O(1.9) (SDC) electrolyte decreased by about 57.6% at 700 degrees C, 60.5% at 750 degrees C and 75.9% at 800 degrees C compared to LBCO, and its cathodic overpotential was 10.7 mV at a current density of 0.2 A cm(-2) at 700 degrees C, while the corresponding value for LBCO was 51.0 mV. The addition of Ag and BBP frit to LBCO had no significant effect on the thermal expansion. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.