Metallic bi-layer of porous Ni and porous stainless steel (STS) is utilized as a support for micro-solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using a thin-film layer of electrolyte. Tape-casting and screen-printing processes are employed to fabricate a thick (similar to 250 mu m) STS-layer covered with a thin (similar to 20 mu m) nano-porous Ni layer. Successful deposition of a nearly pore-free electrolyte layer by the pulsed laser deposition (PLO) method is demonstrated by the high open-circuit-voltage (OCV) value of a single cell. The Ohmic resistance of the micro-SOFC deposited on a porous Ni/STS-support is stable and it shows similar to 28 mW cm(-2) after operation for similar to 112 h at 450 degrees C. The use of a porous Ni/STS bi-layer as a support for micro-SOFCs is successfully demonstrated. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.