Thin film solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), composed of thin coatings of 8 mol% Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) and thick substrates of (La0.8Sr0.2)(0.98)MnO3 (LSM)-YSZ cathodes, are fabricated using the conventional tape casting and tape lamination techniques. Densification of YSZ electrolyte thin films is achieved at 1275 degrees C by adjusting the cathode tape formulation and sintering characteristics. Two types of copper cermets, CuO-YSZ-ceria and CuO-SDC(Ce0.85Sm0.15O1,925)-ceria, are compared in terms of the anodic performance in hydrogen and propane. Maximum power densities for hydrogen and propane at 800 degrees C are 0.26 W cm(-2) and 0.17 W cm(-2) for CuO-YSZ-ceria anodes and 0.35 W cm(-2) and 0.22 W cm(-2) for CuO-SDC-ceria anodes, respectively. Electrochemical impedance analysis suggests that CuO-SDC-ceria exhibits a much lower anodic polarization resistance than CuO-YSZ-ceria, which could be explained by the intrinsic mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conductivities for SDC in the reducing atmosphere. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.