Composites cathodes consisting of strontium doped lanthanum manganite (LSM) and yttria stabilized zirconia have been impregnated with the nitrates corresponding to the nominal compositions: La0.75Sr0.25Mn1.05O3 +/-delta (LSM25), Ce0.8Sm0.2O2 (SDC) and a combination of both (dual). The latter performed best with a polarization resistance (R-P) of 0.39 Omega cm(2) at 600 degrees C and 0.039 Omega cm(2) at 750 degrees C compared to 2.17 and 0.19 Omega cm(2) respectively for electrodes without impregnation. Furthermore the dual impregnation decreased the activation energy of R-P to 1.19 eV compared to 1.35 eV for cells without impregnation. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3583497] All rights reserved.