Electrical properties of nanocrystalline materials are usually different than that of microcrystalline. This phenomenon is not fully understood and therefore it is of continuous interest in the scientific community. In this paper, the results of investigation of nanocrystalline Sm-doped ceria prepared by a net shape technology are presented. The net shape technology is a relatively new ceramic preparation method, which combine powder and polymer precursor methods. The ceramics prepared in this way can be dense and nanocrystalline. Net-shaped prepared Sm-doped ceria was fabricated in the form of bulk ceramics and film on platinum foil. Their electrical properties were investigated and compared with the results obtained from microcrystalline sample. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.