The praseodymium nickelate oxide Pr2NiO4+delta a mixed conducting oxide with the K2NiF4-type structure was evaluated as cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (T = 873 K) The electrochemical performance of the cathode has been improved by optimization of the microstructure of the porous cathode combined with the use of a ceria barrier layer in between the cathode and zirconia electrolyte Both low polarization and ohmic resistances were obtained using Pr2NiO4+delta-powders with a median particle size of 04 mu m and sintering the screen printed layer at a sintering temperature of about 1353 K for 1 h These manufacturing conditions resulted in a cathode microstructure with well established connections between the cathode particles and good adhesion of the cathode on the electrolyte Full-sized anode supported cells have been manufactured using the same process conditions for the Pr2NiO4+delta cathode and tested The best results were obtained when using a dense Ce0 8Gd0 2O1 9 (20CGO) barrier layer While a complete optimization of the cell preparation has not yet been achieved the electrochemical performances of anode supported cells with Pr2NiO4+delta are higher than those with the well known state-of-the-art La0 6Sr0 4Fe0 8Co0 2O3-delta ( LSFC) material (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved