In this study, the interactions between Ni and YSZ in solid oxide fuel cell anode and the influence of glass seal to anode performances have been investigated by pure Ni anode sintered on YSZ pellet. The evolution of Ni-YSZ interface in 100 h galvanostatic polarization in hydrogen is studied with different humidities in hydrogen. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was applied to analyze the time variation of the anode electrochemical characteristics. The interface microstructural changes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The influence of bulk gas humidity, gas-sealing material and Ni coarsening on anode durability was studied. The degradation of pure Ni anode is considered to be determined by the competition among the mechanisms of silicon deposition. YSZ interface morphological change and Ni coarsening. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.