Heterogeneous ceramic composite SOFC electrolyte

A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:

• mixing yttria stabilized zirconia powder with scandia ceria stabilized zirconia powder to form a powder mixture, wherein:
• the scandia ceria stabilized zirconia comprises 1 molar percent or less ceria, about 6 to about 11 molar percent scandia and a balance comprising zirconia;
• shaping the powder mixture;
• sintering the shaped powder mixture to form an electrolyte;
• forming an anode electrode on a first side of the electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is thicker than the anode electrode, wherein:
• the anode electrode comprises a first sublayer comprising nickel and samaria doped ceria and a second sublayer comprising a doped ceria containing ceramic phase and a nickel containing phase, wherein the samaria doped ceria comprises about 15 to about 25 molar percent samaria;
• and
• the first sublayer is located between the electrolyte and the second sublayer;
• and
• forming a cathode electrode on a second side of the electrolyte.