The nickel metal-supported cells fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying are post-heat treated in air at 960 degrees C for 2 h with different pressures. The current-voltage-power and AC impedance measurements show the prepared cell with an applied pressure of 450g cm(-2) in the post-heat treatment has a better electrochemical performance at test temperatures >= 650 degrees C. For test temperatures < 650 degrees C, the maximum power densities at 450g cm(-2) pressure are about the same as the maximum power densities at 1250 g cm(-2) pressure. The SEM micrograph indicates that the cathode including the cathode interlayer and the cathode collector is the most porous region in the cell. AC impedance results show this cathode is the most sensitive part to the applied pressure in the post-heat treatment and the cell with 450g cm(-2) pressure has the smallest low frequency intercept R(2) and the polarization resistance R(p) at temperatures from 600 to 800 degrees C. The performance durability test of the cell post-heat treated at 450 g cm(-2) pressure shows a degradation rate of 0.0087 mV h(-1) or 0.0026 mW h(-1) at 300 mA cm(-2) constant current density and 750 degrees C test temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.