Samarium-doped CeO2 (SDC) compounds are good candidates for application in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). where appropriate densification would lead to increased grain and grain boundary conductivity. In the present work. SDC containing 20 and 30 mol% samarium were prepared by a combined process of mechanical alloying and heat treatment. The dense sintered body was obtained by two-step sintering (TSS) and conventional sintering (CS) methods. The products were characterized by SEM, XRD and impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range of 400-700 degrees C. TSS of the powders containing 20 mol% samarium resulted in the enhancement of electrical conductivity and significant suppression of grain growth. Grain boundary resistivity was reduced with decreasing the grain sizes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.