While cobalt-containing perovskite-type cathode materials facilitate the activation of oxygen reduction, they also suffer from problems like poor chemical stability in CO2 and high thermal expansion coefficients. In this research, a cobalt-free layered GdBaFe2O5+delta (GBF) perovskite was developed as a cathode material for protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) based on proton conducting electrolyte of stable BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-delta (BZCY7). The button cells of Ni-BZCY7 vertical bar BZCY7 vertical bar GBF were fabricated and characterized using complex impedance technique from 600 to 700 degrees C. An open-circuit potential of 1.007 V. maximum power density of 417 mW cm(-2), and a low electrode polarization resistance of 0.18 Omega cm(2) were achieved at 700 degrees C. The results indicate that layered GBF perovskite is a good candidate for cobalt-free cathode material, while the developed Ni-BZCY7 vertical bar BZCY7 vertical bar GBF cell is a promising functional material system for solid oxide fuel cells. Published by Elsevier B.V.