The degradation of GDC interlayer is one of the key issues in the long-term stability of LSCF cathode-YSZ electrolyte based solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Here we demonstrate that the cathode microstructure has a strong influence on the stability of GDC interlayer and cation diffusion behavior of LSCF/GDC/YSZ triplets. LSCF was prepared into two distinct morphologies: porous layers by screen-printing and dense layers by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Dense GDC barriers by PLD were applied to both porous and dense LSCF cathodes. Interdiffusion and microstructural evolution were investigated at temperatures of 800 degrees C to 1000 degrees C in air. At 800 degrees C, both cathodes showed no apparent formation of SrZrO3 at the GDC/YSZ interface. Instead, SrZrO3 formed at the LSCF/GDC interface, and was more evident for the porous LSCF annealed at 900 degrees C. At 1000 degrees C, severe cation interdiffusion at the LSCF/GDC interface became remarkable for the porous cathode, which exhibited rapid degradation of the GDC layer accompanied by the severe SrZrO3 formation; by contrast the dense cathode only showed localized SrZrO3 grains. The superior barrier stability of GDC in a dense cathode can be related to the air-tight interface which would minimize microstructural degradation occurring near the oxygen/LSCF/GDC triple phase boundary. (C) 2016 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.