Gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering is utilized as the anode interlayer for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) with a nanothin yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte and Ni/Pt electrodes. When the thickness ratio of YSZ electrolyte versus 100 nm GDC anode interlayer is at or below 1.5, the electrochemical performance of the LT-SOFC is severely poor due to the microstructural instability of the GDC anode interlayer under high-temperature reducing atmospheric conditions. At 500 degrees C, the peak power density of the LT-SOFC with a Ni anode and a 20 nm GDC anode interlayer is similar to 30% higher than that without the GDC anode interlayer due to faster reaction kinetics on the anode side. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.