A novel method for fabricating Ni(NO3)2 solution impregnated YSZ (YSZ: Yttria Stabilized Zirconia) anodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is presented. In order to reduce the impregnation cycles and increase the reliability of the YSZ membrane, a YSZ support with a porosity of ∼60% is soaked in a saturated Ni(NO3)2 solution with an increased temperature of 80 °C. The impregnated anode is dried in a vacuum drying device without heating, resulting in a flower-like Ni(NO3)2·6H2O crystal. The formed porous structure is likely to facilitate the impregnating process and considered to be the key to success of the impregnation process with saturated solution. After heating at 700 °C, a novel needle-shaped NiO is presented, which exhibits some advantages including fast preparation, high connectivity, large specific surface area and high operational stability (i.e. high aggregation resistance). For the purpose of comparison, Ni(NO3)2 solution impregnated YSZ anodes prepared through the conventional impregnation process are also characterized under the same conditions. •A novel method is proposed to prepare Ni impregnated YSZ anode.•A novel needle-shaped Ni is presented after a drying and heating process.•The preparation efficiency for Ni impregnated YSZ anode is improved by 3 times.•The specific surface area of anode is improved by 1.14 times.•The conductivity and operational stability of the anode are improved substantially.