Electrostatic spray deposition was applied to prepare nanoporous lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) films with high specific surface area (37.34 m(2)/g) for the cathode application in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The electrochemical characteristics were investigated at a temperature range from 546 to 777 degrees C and oxygen partial pressure from 0.01 to 1.0 atm. The diffusion of atomic oxygen and oxygen ion transfer from three-phase boundary to the YSZ electrolyte were found to be the rate-determining steps for oxygen reduction reaction on LSM cathode. The polarization resistance of the LSM prepared using electrostatic spray deposition decreased from 15 to 1.2 Omega cm(2) with increasing temperature from 546 to 777 degrees C and the activation energy was 0.81 eV. It was demonstrated that the ESD method offers a promising approach for the preparation of electrochemically active nanoporous layers, particularly applicable for solid oxide fuel cells. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.