The cubic 10Sc1CeSZ (10 mol%Sc2O3-1 mol% CeO2-89 mol%ZrO2) was prepared by controlling the concentration of the urea varied from 0.4 to 0.6 mol/L in the hydrothermal process. XRD results depict that the 10Sc1CeSZ blocks have a stable cubic phase structure at room temperature after sintering at 1150-1450 degrees C SEM characterization of the fracture surface of the 10Sc1CeSZ blocks shows that the grain size increases from 0.3 to 8 mu m during heat treatment up to 1150-1450 degrees C, correspondingly, the relative densities increase from 98.3% to 99.7%. The impedance spectra measured at 300 degrees C reveal that the grain boundary resistance reduces with the increase of sintering temperature. Impedance analysis results show that the 10Sc1CeSZ block sintered at 1450 degrees C for 4 h has the highest total ionic conductivity of 0.137 S cm(-1) at 800 degrees C. 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.