Complex　porous　structure　and　properties　of　a　solid　oxide　fuel　cell　(SOFC)　anode　significantly　affect　the　SOFC　performance.　In　this　study,　the　sintering　process　of　the　typical　NiO-YSZ　anode　is　simulated　by　a　coarse-grained　molecular　dynamics　method.　After　the　sintering　process　simulation,　the　porous　nanostructure　is　obtained　and　the　thermophysical　properties　of　the　sintered　anode　are　evaluated.　It　is　found　that　the　volume　shrinkage　occurs　along　with　the　self-assembly　phenomenon　during　the　sintering　process.　Sintering　at　relatively　low　temperature　and　high　pressure　could　contribute　to　the　densification　of　the　anode.　Compared　with　the　experimental　structure,　the　sintered　anode　obtained　from　this　study　shows　a　common　morphology.　Sintering　at　the　nanoscale　is　beneficial　to　distribute　the　functional　components　equally.　Furthermore,　the　effects　of　the　sintering　temperature,　sintering　pressure　and　material　composition　on　the　volumetric　heat　capacity　and　thermal　expansion　coefficient　of　the　sintered　anode　are　systematically　discussed.　The　predicted　thermophysical　properties　of　the　anode　agree　well　with　the　open　literature　data.　Results　in　this　study　could　provide　a　guide　of　the　sintering　conditions　and　composition　during　the　experimental　studies　to　obtain　the　desired　properties　of　the　SOFC　anode.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.