The electrical resistance of ferritic stainless steel 430 (SS430), which is used as an interconnect in solid oxide fuel cells for intermediate temperature operation, was improved by coating it with a protective thin layer. Inconel, La(0.6)Sr(0.4)CoO(3), and La(0.6)Sr(0.4)CrO(3) (LSCr) were used as the coating material. Each material was thinly coated on SS430 by using a radio frequency magnetron sputtering method. LSCr-coated SS430 showed the lowest electrical resistance, reducing the resistance to 1/3 of the uncoated SS430. Long-term durability test performed at 700 degrees C for 1000 h showed that the LSCr layer also reduced the oxidation rate because the LSCr perovskite was formed and maintained throughout the measurement. This was verified by X-ray diffraction analysis. On the other hand, the uncoated SS430 formed spinel structures, such as Mn(3-x)Cr(x)O(4), at the surface. Oxidative properties of the uncoated SS430 were inferior to the coated SS430 metals because the spinel structure has a relatively high oxidation rate and low electrical conductivity. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.