Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are one of the most efficient energy conversion devices. The main demand in the current SOFC development is lowering operation temperature to the range of 600˚C - 800˚C. It has been shown that in this temperature range anode supported SOFC is a very promising design. The application of thin film techniques to the electrolyte processing allows decreasing electrolyte resistance and as a result improves fuel cell performance. A nickel cermet, which contains nickel (usually from 40 to 60 vol.%) and yttria stabilized zirconia or ceria, is typically used as an anode. However, nickel cermet during oxidation and reduction is subjected to intense volume change which may lead to destruction of thin film electrolyte or cermet structure.
In this paper a novel method of preparation of nickel cermet anode is presented and evaluated. This method, which is called net shape process, is a combination of conventional ceramic sintering and polymer precursor technique. First ceria powder with carbon pore former is sintered constructing rigid and stable cermet skeleton and next the skeleton is backfilled with nickel polymer. The nickel cermet, which is obtained by this method, has several advantages over conventional one:
1.low sintering temperature of nickel backfilling allows preparation nanocrystalline nickel, which due to its high surface area has high catalytic activity over reduction of hydrogen,
2.it is possible to obtain high conductance cermet with as low as 20% vol. of nickel,
3.decrease of nickel content leads to decrease volume change during reduction and oxidation of anode and as a result increase SOFC shock resistance.
Electrical conductivity and microstructure of nickel ceria cermet as a function of nickel content has been investigated.

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