A novel layered perovskite SmBaCu2O5+delta (SBCO) as a potential cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC) has been investigated in this paper. The SmBaCu2O5+delta oxide was synthesized by EDTA- Citrate complexing sol-gel process. The crystal structure, the thermal expansion, the electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), dilatometer, four-probe dc method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cathodic polarization examinations. The average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of SBCO was 14.6 x 10(-6)/degrees C in the temperature range of 50-800 degrees C, which matched Sm-doped ceria (SDC) electrolytes. The electrode polarization resistance was 0.469 Omega cm(2). Considering low thermal expansions and good electrochemical properties, layered perovskite SBCO shows promising performance as cathode material for IT-SOFCs. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.