High power density is required to commercialize solid oxide fuel cells for vehicular applications. In this work, high performance of metal supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) is achieved via catalyst composition, electrode structure, and processing optimization. The full cell configuration consists of a dense ceramic electrolyte and porous ceramic backbones (electrodes) sandwiched between porous stainless steel metal supports. The conventional YSZ electrolyte and backbones are replaced with more conductive and thinner 10Sc1CeSZ ceramics. MS-SOFCs are co-sintered in a single step and subsequently infiltrated with nanocatalysts. Five categories of cathode catalysts are screened in full cells, including: perovskites, nickelates, praseodymium oxide, binary layered composites, and ternary layered composites. Various anode compositions are also tested. The conventional LSM cathode catalyst is replaced with more active Pr6O11 and the Ni content of the SDC-Ni anode is increased. The resulting cells achieve a peak power of 1.56, 2.0, and 2.85 W cm(-2) at 700, 750, and 800 degrees C, respectively, with 3%H2O/H-2 as fuel and cathode exposed to air. Multiple cells show reproducible performance (P-max = 1.50 +/- 0.06 W cm(-2)) and OCV (1.10 +/- 0.02 V). The performance is further increased with cathode exposed to pure oxygen (2.0 W cm(-2) at 700 degrees C).