The high sintering temperature of Yttrium doped barium zirconate (BZY), the most promising high temperature proton conductor (HTPC) for Intermediate Temperature (400-750 degrees C) Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs), has been reduced by using ZnO as a sintering aid. Obtaining a dense electrolyte at a reduced temperature allows conventional fuel cell preparation methods. A reproducible spin coating method to fabricate highly performing anode supported button cells with dense micrometric BZYZn electrolyte layers has been developed. The electrochemical characterization of button cells at 600 degrees C shows promising performance, higher than that of comparable fuel cells from literature. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.