Various kinds of precious metals were added to the Ni-Y2O3-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) cermets, and the relation between steam reforming of CH4 and the electrochemical activity as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode was investigated. Ru and Pt additions promoted the reforming and suppressed the coke depositions. The electrochemical activity of the SOFC anode was enhanced by the addition of Ru and Pt, indicating that these precious metals effectively functioned as the anode catalysts. The impedance related to gas diffusion was greatly reduced, indicating that stability of the anode catalyst of SOFC was considerably improved since coke was hardly deposited. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.