In order to reduce the sintering temperature of Ni-based anode-supported thin 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) elsectrolyte solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), alumina, with a weight percent of 1, 3, 5, and 7, is respectively doped into YSZ as sintering aid. A pure YSZ buffer layer is introduced between the Al2O3-doped-YSZ electrolyte and Ni-YSZ anode, to prevent Al2O3 and NiO from forming non-conductive spinet NiAl2O4. The experimental results show that doping proper amount of Al2O3 doping can reduce the sintering temperature of YSZ, e.g., 1 wt.% doping decreases the temperature from 1673 K to 1573 K. Anode-supported SOFCs are prepared with Al2O3-doped-YSZ electrolytes sintered at different temperatures. Electrochemical characterization of the SOFCs shows that the single cell with 1 wt.% aluminadoped YSZ electrolyte sintered at 1573 K gives the highest output. The effect of alumina doping on sintering behavior and electrical performance of YSZ is discussed in detail. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.