Sintering is one of the most important steps in the fabrication of solid oxide fuel cell anode. The microstructure evolution of practical NiO-YSZ cermets during sintering was investigated by a scanning electron microscopy. Energy selective backscatter and angle selective backscatter images could provide distinct contrast between NiO and YSZ while the later also shows morphology. Particle size distributions and grain growth activation energies were evaluated. The sintering is negligible below 700 degrees C while it becomes notorious from 1100 degrees C. NiO coarsens prior to YSZ, but nearly stops growth when the temperature maintains at 1400 degrees C for 3 h. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.