The present invention relates to a protonic ceramic fuel cell, a cathode for a protonic ceramic fuel cell, and a method of making the same. More specifically, the cathode for a protonic ceramic fuel cell utilizes a phase-pure perovskite structure of the compound BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.2-xYxO3-δ, where x is between about 0 and about 0.2. The cathode material may then be utilized in a PCFC as either a thin film porous cathode or as nanoparticles infiltrated into a cathode bone having a different structure.