An　intimate　Ni　anode/electrolyte　interface　is　vital　for　the　performance　and　operating　stability　of　solid　oxide　fuel　cells,　while　the　interface　is　greatly　influenced　under　anodic　polarization　conditions.　Here　for　the　first　time　Ni　anodes　are　directly　assembled　on　8　mol%　Y2O3-stabilized　ZrO2　(YSZ)　electrolyte　without　high　temperature　sintering　process,　and　the　interface　formation　between　Ni　anode　and　YSZ　electrolyte　is　studied　at　varied　anodic　polarization　currents　at　800　degrees　C.　The　results　show　that　an　intimate　anode/electrolyte　interface　can　be　created　by　applying　anodic　polarization　current,　leading　to　remarkably　enhanced　electrocatalytic　activity　and　operating　stability.　The　major　reason　of　enhanced　stability　is　ascribed　to　the　mitigated　microstructure　coarsening　of　Ni　anodes　due　to　the　strong　interfacial　bonding　induced　by　the　anodic　polarization.　The　present　findings　shed　lights　on　rational　design　of　Ni　based　anode/electrolyte　interface　by　tuning　the　anodic　polarization.　(C)　2021　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.