The anode substrates in the planar anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) were prepared by tape calendaring process, as well as the thin electrolyte films for increasing the power density of SOFCs at reduced operation temperature were fabricated by slurry-coating method. The minimization of co-firing temperature for anode and electrolyte layers was investigated by a novel three-step sintering technique in this paper. In order to obtain large three phase boundaries (TBP) at the electrolyte/anode interface, active anode layer was screen printed onto the anode substrate. Dense yttria stabitized zirconia (YSZ) thin films with a 10-15 mu m thickness on porous anode substrates were successfully fabricated by slurry-coating in an YSZ suspension. These three layers were co-fired together at 1300-1350 degrees C. The fuel cells with a diameter of 25 mm, fabricated by this co-firing technique show relatively high power density. The open circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.10 V was observed at 800 degrees C, the maximum power densities are 0.28, 0.51 and 0.95 W cm(-2), at 700, 750 and 800 degrees C, respectively. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.