The　adoption　of　oxide　precursor　substrate　can　simplify　the　preparation　process　and　reduce　the　cost　of　metal-supported　solid　oxide　fuel　cells　(MS-SOFCs).　However,　the　drastic　shrinkage　of　oxide　substrate　during　reduction　can　cause　structural　damage　of　MS-SOFCs.　Herein,　yttria-stabilized　zirconia　(YSZ)　is　incorporated　to　tailor　the　physical　properties　of　NiFe　substrate　and　structural　stability　of　MS-SOFCs.　The　results　show　that　the　incorporation　of　YSZ　phase　leads　to　significantly　suppressed　sintering　and　grain　growth　during　high　temperature　sintering　and　reduction　processes　as　well　as　mitigated　shrinkage　of　substrate　and　improved　flatness　of　single　cell　during　reduction　process.　The　incorporation　of　YSZ　phase　also　significantly　enhances　the　mechanical　strength　and　maintains　acceptable　electrical　conductivity　of　the　substrate.　The　single　cell　with　the　incorporation　of　15　wt%　YSZ　phase　into　the　NiFe　substrate　produces　a　peak　power　density　of　1.02　W　cm−2　at　750　°C　with　no　noticeable　degradation　during　the　galvanostatic　test　at　650　°C　for　100　h.　The　present　work　provides　a　new　strategy　for　the　development　of　a　NiFe　metal　substrate　for　robust　MS-SOFCs.　©　2025　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC