This paper evaluates the influence of carbon microspheres (CMSs) as an electrode pore-former on the fabrication and electrochemical properties of the anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The anode supports are fabricated by dry-pressing of CMS and NiO/YSZ (nickel-oxide/yttria-stabilized zirconia) composite powder, and the YSZ electrolyte layer is prepared by the electrophoretic deposition technique. The ohmic and polarization resistances for NiO/YSZ YSZ half cells at different testing temperatures (650-850 degrees C) are analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The polarization ASR (area specific resistance) for the fabricated half cells increases from 0.583 Omega cm(2) to 3.047 Omega cm(2) when the temperature decreases from 850 degrees C to 650 degrees C. The electrochemical performance of single cells is measured at different temperatures (700-850 degrees C) and the results indicate that the cells fabricated using CMS as the pore-former exhibit much higher electrochemical performance than those without using CMS. A maximum power density of 207.7 mW cm(-2), 431.2 mW cm(-2), and 571.6 mW cm(-2) is recorded at 850 degrees C for the cells fabricated by adding 0 wt. %, 2.5 wt. % and 5 wt. % of CMS, respectively. The maximum fuel utilization efficiency is also found to increase from 26.5% for the cell prepared without CMS to 47.0% and 59.6% for the cells prepared with 2.5 wt. % and 5 wt. % of CMS, respectively. The increase in the electrochemical performance by adding CMS as pore-former to anode-supports is attributed to higher porosity and pore size of the electrode. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.