Abstract The effects of gadolinia-doped ceria (CGO, Ce 0.8 Gd 0.2 O 1.9− x ) and yttria-doped zirconia (8YSZ, Zr 0.92 Y 0.08 O 2− x ) interlayers prepared by spray pyrolysis between vacuum plasma-sprayed 8YSZ electrolytes (8YSZ–VPS) and screen-printed (La 0.8 Sr 0.2 ) 0.98 MnO 3 cathodes (LSM) on the power output of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are investigated. Amorphous thin films are deposited and then converted to nanocrystalline electrolyte–cathode interlayers during the first heat-up cycle of a SOFC to the operating temperature. CGO thin films between the YSZ plasma-sprayed electrolyte and the LSM cathode increased the power output by more than 20% compared to cells without interlayers, whereas YSZ films degraded the power output of cells. It is assumed that CGO improves the charge transfer at the electrolyte–cathode interface and that the CGO layer prevents the formation of undesirable insulation of La-zirconate at the interface 8YSZ/LSM.