Fe-Co-Ni coating is deposited on ferritic stainless steel using a cost-effective technique of electroplating for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects application. The steel with Fe-Co-Ni coating has been evaluated in air at 800 degrees C corresponding to the cathode environment of SOFC. The results indicate that the steel with Fe-Co-Ni coating experiences an initially large mass gain, and then the mass gain increases slightly after the first-week rapid oxidation stage. After thermal exposure in air at 800 degrees C, the Fe-Co-Ni coating has been converted into (Fe,Co,Ni)(3)O-4 spinel layer underneath which a Cr2O3 layer is developed from the steel substrate. The outer layer of (Fe,Co,Ni)(3)O-4 spinel has not only suppressed Cr migration outward but also reduced the growth rate of the inner layer of Cr2O3. The steel with Fe-Co-Ni coating exhibits a stable surface oxide scale area specific resistance (ASR) which is much lower than that of the bare steel. (Fe,Co,Ni)(3)O-4 spinel is a promising protective coating for SOFC steel interconnect. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.