In this study, the interactions of a Sr- and Mg-doped lanthanum gallate (LSGM with composition La0.9Sr0.1 Ga0.8Mg0.2Odelta) electrolyte with Fe2O3, Co2O3 and NiO as the anode starting materials were investigated. It was found that the older of reactivity of the LSGM with the three oxides was Co2O3 > NiO > Fe2O3, and La-containing oxides were detected in these binary powder mixtures after firing. The anode performance was greatly influenced by the interaction. The Fe2O3-LSGM anode, mixed with 40 vol.% LSGM powder and sintered at 1150 degreesC, exhibited the highest initial performance in comparison with NiO-LSGM and Co2O3-LSGM anodes. It seems that Fe2O3 is a possible anode starting material for a LSGM-based solid oxide fuel cell. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BSI. Ail rights reserved.