Metal-supported SOFCs have been investigated to overcome the disadvantages of ceramic-supported SOFCs, such as mechanical strength and sealing. In the case of ceramic-supported cells, the mechanical support is a brittle ceramic or cermet, and it contains expensive materials. However, metal-supported cells utilize ceramic layers that are only as thick as necessary for electrochemical functioning, thereby compensating for the disadvantages of ceramic-supported cells. The mechanical support is fabricated from inexpensive and robust metals, and the electrochemically active layers are applied directly to the metal support. In other words, metal-supported SOFCs can provide a reduced system cost, easy manufacturing, and operational advantages. These features make metal-supported SOFCs a very promising candidate for commercialization.

To improve productivity and accelerate the commercialization, the metal supported SOFCs have to be fabricated at low temperature under oxidized environment. In these days, some metal substrates which can withstand corrosion from ≤1000 °C already have been developed. However, the low fabrication temperature is insufficient for conventional sub-micron scaled NiO/YSZ or GDC to generate smooth electrical and ionic paths. Furthermore, the unsuitable anode can affect to interfaces; and as a result, it can cause decrease of electrical conduction.

Therefore, we have tried to apply a wet infiltration technique for anode fabrication. It can fabricate nanosize particles into a porous scaffold at relatively low temperatures and achieve higher performance electrode structures. Then, to substitute the conventional anode, a nanoporous GDC scaffold layer, and the Ni solution were selected as a scaffold and catalyst material, respectively. It is known that the GDC has high ionic conductivity and can be sintered at relatively low temperature. Therefore, it was considered that the GDC could be well matched with the requirements for anode of metal supported SOFC.

For investigating the electrochemical performance according to Ni amounts, the half-cell tests were carried out via solatron 1287/1260 device under 97%H₂+3%H₂O condition. Then, the appropriate Ni infiltrated GDC was applied to the metal-supported SOFC, and the electrochemical performance of infiltrated metal-supported SOFC single cell was measured via the solatron 1287/1260 device.