Solid　oxide　fuel　cells　(SOFCs)　are　one　of　the　most　efficient　energy　conversion　devices.　However,　the　sluggish　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR)　kinetics　at　low　temperatures　significantly　challenge　the　performance　and　commercialization　of　SOFCs.　Introducing　negative　expansion　coefficient　materials　has　been　recognized　as　an　effective　approach　to　enhancing　the　ORR　catalytic　properties,　but　a　clear　understanding　of　this　enhanced　electrochemical　performance　is　still　lacking.　In　this　work,　the　composite　cathode　of　PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co1.5Fe0.5O5+delta(PBSCF)　with　different　amounts　of　negative-thermal-expansion　material　Sm0.85Zn0.15MnO3　(SZM)　is　prepared,　and　in-depth　analysis　the　effect　of　SZM　on　the　catalytic　activity　of　cathodic　ORR　is　systematically　investigated.　Simultaneously,　the　mechanistic　studies　verify　that　the　enhanced　ORR　activity　might　be　attributed　to　the　constructed　compression　strain　during　sintering,　which　significantly　improves　the　adsorption,　dissociation,　and　oxygen　ion　exchange　process　of　the　PBSCF　cathode.