BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ (BZCY), an intermediate temperature proton conductor, has been applied as an electronic blocking material for microtubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using doped ceria electrolyte. Bi-layer electrolyte consisting of 3 μm thick BZCY and 10 μm thick Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) are successfully deposited on anode substrates with 1.0 mm diameter using phase inversion, suspension-coating and co-firing techniques. At 700 °C, open circuit voltage increases from 0.72 V for the cells with single SDC electrolyte to 0.97 V for those with bi-layer electrolyte, demonstrating that BZCY can effectively prevent the internal shorting in doped ceria electrolyte. Peak power density of 246 mW cm−2 has been achieved at 700 °C with the microtubular SOFCs based on the bi-layer electrolyte. Keywords: Solid oxide fuel cells, Bilayer electrolyte, Electronic blocking, Doped ceria, Proton conductor