In an attempt, CuFe2O4 spinel coating was investigated with the purpose of increasing the performance of Crofer 22 APU ferritic stainless steel as a potential SOFC interconnect material. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and 4-probe area specific resistance (ASR) tests. CuFe2O4 spinel layers were deposited via screen-printing method on the bare and pre-oxidized samples. Good bonding between the coating and the substrate was achieved by the reactive sintering process of the reduced coating. Long term oxidation experiments and ASR measurements are investigated. The results indicated that the spinel protection layers not only significantly decreased the ASR, but also inhibited the subscale growth by acting as a barrier to the inward diffusion of oxygen. An ASR of 13.8 and 26.7 m Omega.cm(2) at 800 degrees C after 400 h oxidation were achieved for the bare and pre-oxidized CuFe2O4 spinel coated samples, respectively, which were much lower than that of the bare substrate (48 m Omega.cm(2)) at the same temperature. The ASR of 143 m Omega.cm(2)was reached after 600 h of exposure at 800 for the coated sample. The high electrical conductivity of CuFe2O4 spinel and its doping by Mn, inhibition of the resistive Cr2O3 oxide scale growth, and good adherent between the coating and substrate are supposed to be responsible for the substantial electrical conductivity improvement. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.