An inert-substrate-supported tubular single cell, with a configuration of porous yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) supporter/Ni anode current collector/Ni-Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 anode/YSZ/Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 bi-layer electrolyte/La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-delta cathode, has been fabricated by extrusion and dip-coating techniques. Thickness of the Ni layer is modified by controlling the number of dip-coatings from one to four. Electrochemical performance and redox cycling stability of the single cell are investigated with respect to the microstructure of the Ni layer. Increasing the thickness of the Ni layer enhances the maximum power density of the cell, while it is unfavorable for the redox cycling stability. Considering the trade-off between these two aspects, an optimum dip-coating time is determined to be two. The cell shows a reasonable maximum power density of 453 mW cm(-2) at 800 degrees C, as well as good redox cycling stability within eight redox cycles. Additionally, 10 vol.% Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 ceramic particle is incorporated into the Ni layer to further improve the redox cycling stability. The cell exhibits enhanced redox cycling performance after the Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 incorporation. Within seven redox cycles, the cell voltage loss is less than 1% at a current density of 400 mA cm(-2), and it maintains 93% of its initial performance after 11 redox cycles. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.