This project deals with the development and the electrochemical characterization of anode supported single chamber SOFC in a simulated environment of thermal engine exhaust gas. In the present work, a gas mixture representative of exhaust conditions is selected. It is composed of hydrocarbons (HC: propane and propene), oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and water. Only oxygen content is varied leading to different gas mixtures characterized by three ratios R = HC/O-2. Concerning the cell components, a cermet made of nickel and an electrolyte material, Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (CGO) is used as anode and two cathode materials, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-delta (LSCF) and Pr2NiO4+delta (PNO), are evaluated. The prepared cells are investigated in the various gas mixtures for temperatures ranging from 450 degrees C to 600 degrees C. Ni-CGO/CGO/LSCF-CGO cell has delivered a maximum power density of 15 mW cm(-2) at 500 degrees C with R = HC/O-2 = 0.21, while lower power densities are obtained for the other ratios, R = 0.44 and R = 0.67. Afterwards, LSCF and PNO cathode materials are compared and LSCF is found to deliver the highest power densities. Finally, by improving the electrolyte microstructure, some cells presenting a maximum power density of 25 mW cm(-2) at 550 degrees C are produced. Moreover, up to 17% of initial HC are eliminated in the gas mixture. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.