In this study, we report the facile fabrication of thin-film yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes and Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) buffering layers for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using a thermal inkjet printing technique. Stable YSZ and SDC inks with solids contents as high as 20 and 10 wt.%, respectively, were first prepared. One single printing typically resulted in an YSZ membrane with thickness of approximately 1.5 mu m, and membranes with thicknesses varied from 1.5 to 7.5 mu m were fabricated with multiple sequential printing. An as-fabricated cell with a La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSM) cathode delivered a peak power density (PPD) of 860 mW cm(-2) at 800 degrees C. The SDC layer prepared using the inkjet printing method exhibited enclosed pores and a rough surface, which was, however, ideal for its application as a buffering layer. A cell with a dense 7.5-mu m-thick YSZ layer, a 2-mu m-thick SDC buffering layer and a Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (BSCF) cathode was fabricated; this cell delivered a PPD of 1040 mW cm(-2) at 750 degrees C and a high open circuit voltage (OCV) of approximately 1.10 V. The described technique provides a facile method for the fabrication of electrolytes for SOFCs with precise thickness control. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.