A new series of Al2O3-doped SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (SCEA) mixed conducting oxides were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. Effects of doping Al2O3 (1, 3, 5 and 10 wt.%, respectively) on the crystal structure, order-disorder phase transition, microstructure, oxygen permeability and structure stability of SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (SCF) were investigated by XRD, TG-DSC, SEM, oxygen permeation measurement and the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas reaction. Although the oxygen permeability of the SCF was weakened in the oxygen permeation measurement at the air/He gradient due to the doping of Al2O3, perovskite structure of SCFA was found stable in the low oxygen partial pressure (about 1.01325 x 10(2) Pa (10(-3) atm)). In the POM reaction, the rate of the oxygen permeation of SCFA3 (the addition amount of Al2O3 was 3 wt.%) membrane was about 10 times higher than that in the oxygen permeation measurement at 1223 K, and the SCFA3 membrane was successfully operated in the POM reaction for more than 500 h without fracture. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.