Oxygen-deficient complex cobalt oxides BaCo1 (-) xYxO3 (-) (y),=0.15, 0.25 and 0.33, with a cubic perovskite structure have been synthesized in air at 1100 degrees C using a citrate route. Cation composition of the compounds was confirmed by energy-dispersed X-ray (EDX) microanalysis while oxygen content was determined by iodometric titration. An electron diffraction (ED) study of the x=0.25 and 0.33 compositions show the presence of a diffuse intensity, indicating possible short-range ordering of the B cations. It was found that the treatment of BaCo0.75Y0.25O2.55 in a humid atmosphere leads to the absorption of water vapour at the first stage. Oxygen permeation studies of the ceramic membranes of BaCo0.75Y0.25O2.55 and BaCo0.67Y0.33O2.55 with variable thickness showed high oxygen fluxes of 0.17-0.32 mu mol/cm(2)/s at 950 degrees C. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.