The microstructural effect of the solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode on fuel cell performance has been investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Anodes were examined after the fuel cell had operated at 600-700 degrees C using H-2 fuel. The microstructure of micro tubular anodes consisting of conventional Ni-yittria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) has been controlled by altering the co-sintering temperature with the zirconia electrolyte. Impedance analysis has clearly shown that the over-potentials for the gas transport and the electrochemical reactions improve for the anode prepared at lower co-sintering temperatures. Using data from the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) energy region, the metallic Ni fraction as a function of distance from the electrolyte has also been measured for those samples. XANES observation has shown the oxidation status of Ni in the anode is quite sensitive to position relative to the anode/electrolyte interface. These results may be an indication of the positions of the reaction sites for oxide ions and the fuel: assuming the oxidation state of nickel (Ni-O) designates the active triple phase boundary. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.