The microstructure of the cathodes plays a crucial role in the performance of the cell and electrocatalytic reduction of steam into hydrogen in SOEC applications. In the present work, a novel ionic-conducting ceramic 1Ce10ScSZ is used for the Ni-1Ce10ScSZ cermet cathode electrode development, as it has better ionic conductivity than the conventional 8YSZ. For this, symmetrical cells were fabricated using screen printing technique. The dominant factors such as sintering temperature, composition and thickness on the microstructure and polarisation resistance of the cermet are suitably optimized. 1300 degrees C was found to be the most convenient sintering temperature and the 60% NiO-40% 1Ce10ScSZ (by volume) as the most suitable composition. Further, the coating thickness of 35 mu m corresponding to 5 layers of coating was found to be resulting in minimum polarisation resistance (determined from electrochemical impedance studies) of 0.95 Omega cm(2) in moistened Ar-2% H-2 and 0.79 Omega cm(2) moistened H-2 at 800 degrees C. The aging rate as determined from the increase in polarisation resistance was 0.01 Omega cm(2)/h in moistened Ar-2% H-2 and 0.04 Omega cm(2)/h in moistened H-2. The effects of parameters like current collecting layers and interface layers were also investigated. Thus, a novel Ni-1Ce10ScSZ cermet electrode having slow aging, low electrode electrolyte polarization resistance and robust microstructure is developed. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.