a plurality of zircon fibers or other porous matrix material is mixed with a yttria stabilized zirconia powder forming a fiber powder mixture the fiber powder mixture is formed into a porous ysz layer and calcined after calcination the porous ysz layer is impregnated with a metal containing salt solution in accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention the metal containing salt solution comprises a nitrate salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of cu ni and mixtures thereof in accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention the fiber powder mixture is made into a slurry with glycerol and then applied to the anode side of the dense ysz electrolyte of a solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with another preferred embodiment the powdered fibers are added to a tapecast which can be included as a layer in a composite with a second layer which will give dense ysz the system is then calcined at a suitable temperature for example 1550 u00b0 c for two hours after addition of the cathode to the cathode side of the ysz electrolyte the porous ysz layer on the anode side is impregnated with aqueous solutions of ni no 3 2 or cu no 3 2 to bring the metal content of the anode to at least 35 by weight metal after which the anode is calcined at 950 u00b0 c for.