Polarization characteristics of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells, fabricated by pulsed laser deposition and suspension plasma spray, were investigated. With the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and current-voltage polarization curves, the metal-supported SOFCs were compared and analyzed in terms of their cathode exchange current density, polarization loss and maximum power density over the temperature range of 400-600 degrees C. The electrochemical mechanism for the linear polarization characteristics observed from the experimental data was addressed. Results from experiments and simulation indicate that fabrication processes and operation temperatures play an important role in the electrochemical mechanism for linear polarization characteristics of metal-supported SOFCs. Crown Copyright (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.