La1 6Sr0 4NiO4-Ag (LSN-Ag) composite cathodes are prepared and characterized by XRD and SEM respectively The electrochemical properties of the composite cathodes are investigated using AC impedance and DC polarization methods from 500 to 700 C under different oxygen partial pressures The polarization resistance (R-p) decreases with the increase of Ag content in the composite electrode The addition of 5 vol % Ag in LSN results in the lowest R-p of 021 Omega cm(2) at 700 C in air Oxygen partial pressure dependence study indicates that the charge transfer process is the reaction rate limiting step while the diffusion process has no sensitive to the Ag loading. LSN-5Ag cathode exhibits the lowest overpotential of about 32 mV at a current density of 144 mA cm(-2) at 700 C in air (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved