Within this work, a MgO stabilized ZrO2 (MSZ) porous media with and without a gadolinia doped ceria (Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9, GDC) catalyst coating has been evaluated in heterogeneous combustion of mixtures of methane and air at different equivalence ratios inside of a porous combustor. The temperature distribution within the combustion chamber along with optical and acoustic emissions profiles from the exhaust side of the combustion chamber has been analyzed to characterize performance of the combustor. It was shown that enhancement of MgO-ZrO2 ceramic surfaces with up to 5 wt% GDC ceramic coating provides a significant enhancement to the chemical reactions occurring during heterogeneous combustion. The placement of the GDC catalyst enables (i) higher temperatures through the combustion chamber; (ii) increases in maximum heating rates for fixed reactant flow rates; as well as (iii) extending the operating limits of the combustor. (C) 2017 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.