MnO-Co composite was employed to modify a Ni-Sm0.2Ce0.8O2 (-) (x) anode. The electrochemical performance of the MnO-Co modified anode was evaluated on an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell in dry hydrogen and dry methane, separately. The modified anode exhibited much higher peak power density in H-2 compared with the original anode at the same condition. For example, the peak power density by the modified anode was 1756 mW cm(-2) at 700 degrees C, compared with 1322 mW cm(-2) by the original anode at the same temperature. The higher peak power density of modified anode was attributed to its much lower polarization resistance and relatively higher porosity. However, it showed a worse stability than the unmodified anode in dry methane at 650 degrees C due to severer carbon deposition. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.