TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: In preparing the anode-supported planar SOFC, the Ni-YSZ functional anode powder is prepared by an electroless technique for which a redox bath containing 0.03-0.08% (w/v) of stannous chloride and 0.01-0.05% (w/v) of palladium chloride solution in water (pH 2.0-3.0) acidulated with hydrochloric acid is prepared first; 1-5 g YSZ powder is then added to 100 ml of the above prepared redox bath solution and subjected to high energy ultrasonification at an agitation frequency between 10-50 kHz, preferably 20 kHz for 30-60 minutes, preferably 45 minutes; the sensitized YSZ particulates, thus formed are then recovered by known methods such as decantation, filtration etc. followed by thorough washing with acidulated water (with in a pH range of 6.0-6.5) and drying at 100 degrees C tol20 degrees C; 6.1 g of such dried sensitized YSZ powder is then added to an electroless bath containing nickel nitrate solution corresponding to 30 vol% of Ni in the Ni-YSZ cermet; the electroless bath is maintained at a pH range of 9.0-9.5 and at a temperature of 90-100 degrees C; the deposition of metallic Ni on the sensitized YSZ particulates in the electroless bath is carried out by drop wise addition of hydrazine hydrate of an amount ranging between 40-50 ml having a concentration range of 99-100% of the chemical and is indicated by froth formation with change in color of the YSZ from white to black; the Ni-YSZ powder with 30 vol% Ni thus prepared is washed with distilled water and finally dried in oven at a temperature range of 100 degrees C to 120 degrees C for 12-15 hours. The yttria content in the yttria stabilized zirconia(YSZ) is in the range of 8-10 mole%, preferably 8 mole%. The porosity generator used is selected from glucose, sucrose, starch, corn, graphite, and solid organic polymers such as poly vinyl butyral, poly vinyl alcohol and poly methyl methacrylate, preferably carbon. In step (ii), Ni-YSZ functional anode powder slurry is prepared by mixing Ni-YSZ functional anode powder with Ni content of 30 vol% to the first component of an organic vehicle containing toluene 40-55 wt.%, ethanol 30-40 wt.%, menhaden fish oil 3.5-4.5 wt.% and carbon 5-25 wt.% to obtain a mixed ingredient, milling all the mixed ingredients in a polypropylene bottle using zirconia grinding media for a period in the range of 15-30 hours in a ball mill to obtain a milled slurry; adding second component of the organic vehicle containing benzyl butyl phthalate and polyvinyl butyral in a ratio in the range of 1.8:1-2.06:1 to the milled slurry followed by ball milling for a period in the range 20-30 hours to obtain Ni-YSZ slurry for tape casting. Also, in step (ii), the NiO-YSZ support slurry is prepared by mixing NiO and YSZ in a ratio in the range of 50:50-70:30 wt% ratio to the first component of an organic vehicle containing toluene 40-45 wt.%, ethanol 25-30 wt.%, menhaden fish oil 3.5-4.5 wt.% and carbon 20-30 wt.% to obtain a mixed ingredient, milling all the mixed ingredients in a polypropylene bottle using zirconia grinding media for a period in the range 15-30 hours in a ball mill to obtain a milled slurry; adding second component of the organic vehicle containing benzyl butyl phthalate and poly vinyl butyral in a ratio in the range of 1.8:1-2.0:1 to the milled slurry followed by ball milling for a period in the range 20-30 hours to obtain NiO-YSZ slurry for tape casting. The YSZ slurry is prepared by mixing YSZ powder to the first component of organic vehicle containing toluene 50-55 wt.%, ethanol 40-45 wt.% and menhaden fish oil 3.5-4.5 wt.% to obtain a mixed ingredient, milling all the mixed ingredients in a polypropylene bottle using zirconia grinding media for a period in the range of 20-30 hours in a ball mill to obtain a milled slurry, adding second component of the organic vehicle containing benzyl butyl phthalate and poly vinyl butyral in 1.8:1-2.1:1 ratio to the milled slurry followed by ball milling for a period in the range of 20-30 hours so as to obtain YSZ slurry for tape casting. The thickness of the LSM-YSZ cathode layer after heat treatment is in the range of 8-15 mu m, preferably kept at 10 mu m. The LSM cathode current collector layer after heat treatment is in the range of 40-65 mu m, preferably kept at 55 mu m. The planar anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell using functional anode show current density in the range of 1.4-3.5 A/cm2 at 800 degrees C and 0.7 V from the single cell.